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LIBRA^RY 

OP   THE 

Theological    Seminary, 

PRINCETON,  N.J. 

^  BV  3269  .M67  R5 

Richards,  Elias  Jones,  1813 
^       1872. 

Memoir  of  Mrs.  Anna  Maria 
^   Morrison,  of  the  North 


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MEMOIR 


OF 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON. 


M  £  M  0  I  R, 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON, 


NORTH  INDIA  MISSION. 


BY   THE 

REV.  E.  J.  RICHARDS. 


NEW-YORK  : 
M.    W.    DODD, 

Theol.  and  Sunday  School  Bookseller  and  Publisher, 

BRICK  CHURCH  CHAPEL,  OPPOSITE  THE  CITY  HALL. 

MDCCCXLIII. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1843,  by 

E.     D  .     WARD, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District 
of  New-York. 


Universifv  Press  : 
JOHN  F.  TROW,  PRINTER, 
33  An  n-  street, 
New- York. 


PREFACE. 


A  POPULAR  writer  justly  remarks  that  "for 
the  purposes  of  biography,  those  lives  are  the 
most  eligible,  that  are  the  most  imitable  ;  and 
these  are  derived  from  characters  that  belong 
to  our  own  community  ;  that  are  found  in  the 
same  relations  and  conditions  with  ourselves." 
The  following  pages  are  given  to  the  world, 
not  because  they  contain  any  thing  novel  or 
splendid,  but  because  it  is  believed  that  they 
exhibit  a  character  not  merely  imitable  but 
worthy  of  imitation.  The  compiler  has  only 
to  express  his  regret  that  the  materials  were 
not  placed  in  abler  hands.  But  however  hum- 
ble the  estimate  he  might  be  disposed  to  place 
upon  his  own  abilities,  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  deny  the  urgent  request  of  her  parents, 
who  were  his  friends,  and  of  her  bereaved 
husband,  who  for  so  many  years  had  been  the 
companion  of  his  studies. 


V  PREFACE. 

The  object  has  not  been  to  swell  the  size  of 
the  volume  by  an  indiscriminate  publication 
of  every  thing  that  came  into  his  hands,  but 
simply  to  introduce  such  extracts  from  her 
journals  and  correspondence,  as  were  adapted 
to  throw  light  upon  her  character,  and  to  in- 
terest the  general  reader.  And  if  these  few 
and  simple  memorials  shall  serve  to  lodge  a 
serious  thought  in  the  mind  of  a  single  youth, 
or  win  one  soul  to  God  —  to  excite  in  the 
bosom  of  one  Christian  a  warmer  love  or 
holier  zeal,  or  shall  induce  one  of  the  "  daugh- 
ters of  Zion"  to  consecrate  youth  and  talents, 
health  and  life,  to  the  work  of  giving  the  gos- 
pel to  a  dying  world,  the  deceased  will  not 
have  lived  in  vain,  nor  will  the  compiler  lose 
his  reward. 

Philadelphia,  March  1th,  1843. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGB 

BIRTH EDUCATION EARLY     RELIGIOUS    IM- 
PRESSIONS  CONVERSION REVIVAL  IN 

BLOOMFIELD,  N.  J. ITS    CHARACTERISTICS 

AND  EFFECTS 9 

CHAPTER    II. 

UNITES  WITH  THE    CHURCH EFFORTS    TO  DO 

GOOD EARLY    INTEREST     IN    THE     CAUSE 

OF     MISSIONS CONSIDERATION      OF     HER 

PERSONAL  DUTY PERPLEXITY  OF  MIND 

LETTERS ULTIMATE    DECISION SCRAPS 

FROM  HER   JOURNAL      ....  29 

CHAPTER    III. 

CORRESPONDENCE MARRIAGE DEPARTURE 

FROM      HOME JOURNEY       TO      PHILADEL- 
PHIA  EMBARKATION     .  .  .  .  61 

CHAPTER    IV. 

SAILS   FOR    INDIA SICKNESS CORRESPOND- 
ENCE  VISIT  TO  MADEIRA       ...  83 


VUl  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    V. 

LEAVES      MADEIRA EXTRACTS      FROM     HER 

JOURNAL SICKNESS VOYAGE      TO      CAL- 
CUTTA            112 

CHAPTER    VI. 

ARRIVAL  AT  CALCUTTA SICKNESS DEATH         153 


MEMOIR 

OK 

MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTH EDUCATION EARLY      RELIGIOUS      IMPRES- 
SIONS  CONVERSION REVIVAL  IN  BLOOMFIELD, 

N.  J. ITS  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  EFFECTS. 

The  subject  of  the  following  memoir,  Mrs. 
Anna  Maria  Morrison,  was  the  second  daughter 
of  Dr.  E.  D.  Ward  of  Bloorafield,  N.  J.  She 
was  born  January  14,  1814.  Both  her  parents 
were  pious,  and  exemplary  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  that  place.  With  her 
excellent  and  devoted  mother,  however,  she 
was  soon  called  to  part ;  but  her  father  still  sur- 
vives, to  mourn,  though  not  as  without  hope, 
over  the  early  grave  of  his  beloved  daughter. 

Of  the  childhood   and  youth  of  Anna,  we 

have  but  little  to  record.     Under  the  paternal 

roof,  and  in  the  society  of  affectionate  brothers 

and  sisters,  they  passed  rapidly  and  pleasantly 

2 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

away.  And  the  possession  of  a  singularly 
sweet  and  amiable  disposition,  rendered  her  a 
general  favorite  in  the  circle  of  her  young  as- 
sociates. For  even  in  childhood,  she  was  dis- 
tinguished for  many  of  those  lovely  traits  of 
chaiacter,  which  marked  her  maturer  years — a 
strong  and  confiding  affection,  delicate  sensi- 
bilities, and  an  almost  morbid  fear  of  inflicting 
a  wound  upon  the  feelings  of  others,  by  look, 
or  tone,  or  gesture.  Nor  was  she  wanting  in 
that  beautiful  simplicity  and  artlessness  of 
manner,  which  give  a  peculiar  charm  to  this 
period  of  life.  Her  juvenile  studies  were  pur- 
sued in  the  schools  of  her  native  village.  And 
though  there  was  nothing  extraordinary  or 
precocious  in  the  development  of  her  faculties, 
yet  she  was  not  undistinguished  among  her 
companions  for  the  love  of  knowledge,  and 
the  facility  with  which  she  usually  acquired  it. 
Soon  after  the  death  of  her  mother,  she  was 
placed  at  a  flourishing  school  in  Morristown, 
N.  J.,  where  she  enjoyed  superior  advantages 
for  the  improvement  of  her  moral  and  intellec- 
tual character.     And  although  she  was  permit- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  1  1 

ted  to  continue  here  only  about  one  year,  yet 
by  her  diliojence,  her  correct  deportment,  and 
her  mild  and  amiable  temper,  she  won  the 
lasting  esteem  and  attachment  of  the  princi- 
pal, and  of  many  of  her  fellow  pupils.  We 
deem  it  a  source  of  no  little  regret,  that  no  part 
of  the  correspondence  with  them  can  now  be 
recovered,  so  as  to  find  a  place  among  these 
simple  memorials. 

We  have  already  observed,  that  Anna  was 
blessed  with  pious  parents.  She  was,  there- 
fore, brought  to  the  altar  in  infancy,  and  dedi- 
cated to  God  in  baptism.  From  a  child  she 
was  carefuly  instructed  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ; 
and  taught,  both  by  precept  and  example, 
daily  to  feel  and  acknowledge  her  obligations 
to  God.  And,  if  we  have  been  correctly  in- 
formed, she  was*  the  subject  of  very  early  reli- 
gious impressions.  But  these,  although  often 
visible  and  deep,  were  not  lasting.  In  this 
particular,  however,  her  case  is  by  no  means 
singular.  Like  the  mornin']^  cloud  and  the 
early  dew,  the  first  serious  impressions  of  child- 
hood too  frequently  vanish  away.     But  why  is 


12  MEMOIR    OF 

it,  that  they  are  so  seldom  permanent  or 
saving  ?  It  cannot,  surely,  be  regarded  as  the 
result  of  a  fatal  necessity.  We  know  of  noth- 
ing, in  reason  or  Scripture,  that  tends  to  dis- 
courage Christian  parents  from  looking  and  la- 
boring for  the  conversion  of  their  children, 
while  yet  young.  We  are  aware  of  the  ob- 
stacles in  the  way.  We  know  something  of 
the  proverbial  levity  and  waywardness  of  the 
young  mind  ;  and  the  vagueness  of  its  first  im- 
pressions. And  these,  added  to  the  natural 
aversion  to  divine  things,  which  always  exists, 
render  it  no  easy  task  to  chain  the  attention  so 
as  to  lodge  the  deep  convictions  of  truth  and 
duty  in  the  heart.  The  most  faithful  effort, 
too  often,  is  as  fruitless  as  the  attempt  to  im- 
press durable  characters  upon  the  shifting  sand 
or  the  yielding  wave.  Yet  it  cannot  be  doubt- 
ed but  that  the  youthful  mind  is  susceptible  of 
saving  impressions.  We  may  go  farther,  and 
say  that  the  mind,  at  that  season,  is  in  a  state 
peculiarly  favorable  to  be  powerfully  and  per- 
manently impressed.  It  has  not  yet  been  poi- 
soned with  error,  warped  with  prejudice,  nor 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  13 

steeled  against  the  convictions  of  truth,  by  long 
indulgence  in  sin.  And  moreover,  the  acknow- 
ledged fact,  that  God  does,  occasionally^  seal 
instruction  upon  infant  minds,  and  perfect 
praise  from  infant  lips,  shows  that  there  is  no 
natural  impossibility  in  the  case.  And  as  soon 
could  we  doubt  that  it  was  the  voice  of  God 
that  aroused  young  Samuel  from  the  slumbers 
of  midnight,  as  that  it  is  the  Spirit  who  whis- 
pers in  the  ear  of  childhood,  "  Remember  now 
thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth."  And  if 
these  seasons  of  visitation  were  always  regard- 
ed, and  if  this  first  seriousness  were  cherished, 
by  parental  care  and  faithfulness,  who  can 
doubt,  but  that  we  should  witness  far  more  fre- 
quent and  lovely  examples  of  early  piety  .^  The 
time  is  predicted,  and  we  believe  is  not  far 
distant,  when  life  will  be  consecrated  to  God 
in  the  bud  ;  when  early  piety  shall  be  the  rule, 
and  the  instances  rare  indeed  of  one  who  shall 
"  be  born  again  when  he  is  old." 

But  Anna  seemed  not,  at  first,  to  know  that 
it  was  the  Lord  who  called  her.  She  there- 
fore relapsed  into  deeper  slumbers,  after  these 


14  MEMOIR,  OF 

first  awakenings.  But  still  she  was  not  long 
at  ease.  Her  conscience  was  too  tender,  and 
too  much  enlightened  to  be  silent ;  and  hence 
the  struggle  was  often  severe  between  that 
faithful  monitor  and  the  impulses  of  the  natural 
heart.  And  she  has  since  acknowledged  that 
in  the  most  thoughtless  period  of  her  life  there 
were  moments  when  the  conviction  w^as  forced 
upon  her  with  great  power,  that  religion  was 
not  only  important  but  desirable.  But  there 
was  time  enough  still ;  and  she  w^as  disposed 
to  postpone  the  consideration  of  it  until  she 
had  numbered  a  few^  more  years,  and  the  effer- 
vescence of  youthful  feeling  had  passed  away. 
Like  multitudes  of  others  Anna  labored  under 
a  wTong  impression  in  regard  to  the  influence 
of  religion.  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  yet 
despite  the  experience  of  the  pious,  and  the 
testimony  of  God,  it  is  regarded  by  the  young 
as  fitted  only  for  age.  And  they  promise  them- 
selves that,  as  age  steals  on,  they  will  seek  its 
consolation  and  support.  But  the  path  it 
marks  out  is  now  altogether  too  strait  and 
thorny  to  be  inviting.     It  fixes  a  ban  upon 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  15 

pleasure ;  chills  the  glow  of  feeling ;  re- 
presses the  eagerness  of  desire;  checks  the 
ardor  of  pursuit;  destroys  the  buoyancy  of 
the  spirits;  and  imparts  to  the  countenance 
a  gravity  that  is  unnatural  and  severe.  Its 
whole  aspect  is  glcomy,  unsocial,  and  forbid- 
ding. "  Now  is  the  time,"  exclaims  the  youth, 
"  to  enjoy  life.  I  cannot  bid  farewell  to  the 
world  forever,  as  a  source  of  happiness,  just  as 
it  opens  before  me  its  scenes  of  enchantment. 
I  am  not  prepared  to  forego  all  its  pleasures, 
and  to  enter  upon  the  dull  round  of  religious 
duty.  No,  I  cannot  become  a  Christian  now. 
I  am  too  young.  The  flush  of  youth  is  on  my 
cheek ;  the  vigor  of  youth  is  in  my  limbs ;  the 
tide  of  health  is  rushing  through  my  veins  ;  and 
the  hopes  of  youth  are  enshrined  within  my 
heart ;  life  is  still  all  before  me."  Dear  youth- 
ful reader,  are  these  your  feelings  and  reason- 
ings ?  Too  young  to  be  a  Christian !  Who 
told  thee  so  ?  Did  God,  who  lays  claim  to  thy 
^\first  and  best  affections  ?  Did  the  Bible,  in  the 
examples  of  early  piety  which  it  records  ? 
Life  all  before  thee  1   And  who  gave  thee  that 


16  MEMOIR  OF 

assurance  ?  Did  the  history  of  the  past,  or  the 
observation  of  the  present  ?  Or  did  a  voice 
come  to  thee  from  the  tomb,  as  you  gazed  upon 
the  memorials,  and  trod  upon  the  ashes  of  the 
youthful,  the  lovely  and  the  gay?  Oh  no, 
there  is  nothing  there  to  encourage  or  justify 
an  hour's  delay  in  seeking  the  '^  one  thing 
needful." 

The  reasonings  of  the  young  on  this  subject 
are  utterly  false,  and  often  most  fatal  too.  And 
that  they  were  not  so  in  the  case  of  our  young 
friend  is  to  the  praise  of  God's  most  free  and 
sovereign  grace.  He  called  her  yet  again. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  the  year  1830,  that 
she  became  the  subject  of  those  deep  and  pun- 
gent convictions,  which,  after  a  painful  and 
protracted  struggle,  led  her  to  cast  herself  upon 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  pardon  and  salvation. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year,  it  pleased  the  Lord 
to  visit  the  church  in  Bloomfield*  with  one  of 
those  delighful  seasons  of  refreshing,  which 
marks  its  history  with  peculiar  interest.    It  has, 

*  Then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Gideon 
N.  Judd. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  17 

indeed,  been  like  a  well-watered  garden,  and 
as  a  field  which  the  Lord  has  blessed.  The 
writer  was  at  this  time  a  student  in  the  Acad- 
emy at  that  place.  It  was  his  privilege  to  wit- 
ness the  thrilling  scenes,  and  to  share  in  the 
blessings  of  that  glorious  work  of  grace.  And 
memory  still  loves  to  dwell  upon  it  as  a  spot 
of  living  green  in  life's  arid  wastes.  He  has 
since  witnessed  many  precious  revivals ;  but 
none  so  precious  as  that.  It  seemed  as  though 
it  might  be  the  beautiful  type  and  representative 
of  those  predicted  times  of  refreshing  that  are 
yet  to  bless  the  church,  and  usher  in  the  mil- 
lenium.  There  was  nothing  extraordinary,  or 
new,  in  the  measures  employed  in  its  com- 
mencement or  progress.  It  was  a  blessing 
bestowed  upon  the  ordinary  and  stated  means 
of  grace.  The  word  was  preached,  instant,  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  with  great  plainness 
and  pungency  ;  and  prayer, earnest,  ardent,  and 
believing,  ascended  to  heaven  from  the  closet, 
the  social  circle,  and  the  sanctuary.  Nor  was 
it  offered  in  vain.  The  Lord  heard,  and  an- 
swered it  in  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 


18  MEMOIR  OF 

We  have  said  that  it  occurred  in  summer 
time ;  yet  it  was  something  more  than  a  sum- 
mer shower  in  its  duration  and  effects.  It  was 
more  Hke  one  of  those  continued  and  gentle 
rains  sent  by  a  kind  Providence  to  soften  and 
refresh  the  parched  and  thirsty  earth.  The 
Spirit's  influences  were  enjoyed  during  most  of 
a  year.  Rehgion  became  the  all-absorbing 
theme  of  conversation  among  the  old  and  the 
young.  The  meetings  were  full,  solemn,  and 
deeply  interesting.  The  voice  of  prayer  and 
praise  might  be  heard  in  almost  every  place. 
It  was  borne  to  the  ear,  in  sweet,  yet  solemn 
cadences,  upon  the  night  air;  and  it  often 
broke  the  deep  stillness  of  midnight !  The 
good  work  continued  to  advance,  week  after 
week,  and  month  after  month,  with  increasing 
interest  and  power,  and  yet  there  was  no  noise, 
nor  bustle,  nor  parade.  It  was  manifest  to  all, 
to  the  believer  and  the  unbeliever,  to  the  saint 
and  the  sinner,  that  God  was  there.  It  was  not 
a  season  of  excitement  merely  ;  but  of  revival 
and  renewal.  Although  the  subjects  of  renew- 
ing grace  numbered  more  than  one  hundred — 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  19 

of  whom  a  large  majority  were  young — yet  we 
rejoice  to  have  the  testimony  of  the  pastor, 
that,  with  few  exceptions,  they  have  continued 
to  adorn  their  profession  with  a  deportment 
becoming  the  gospel  of  Christ.  And  the  watch- 
fulness and  fidelity  of  the  pastor  were  no  doubt 
instrumental  in  securing  this  happy  result. 
They  were  not  hurried  into  the  church  without 
being  advised  of  the  nature  and  solemnity  of 
the  transaction.  Week  after  w^eek  these  young 
converts  were  assembled,  that  each  might  re- 
ceive such  instruction  and  counsel  as  his  case 
demanded.  The  strictest  self-examination  was 
continually  urged  upon  them ;  and  those  tests 
skilfully  and  faithfully  applied,  by  which  each 
might  determine  his  standing  before  God.  And 
at  the  same  time  the  utmost  caution  was  ob- 
served, lest  by  undue  severity  he  might  "  break 
the  bruised  reed,  or  quench  the  smoking  flax," 
or  by  a  mistaken  tenderness,  foster  and  encour- 
age a  fallacious  and  unfounded  hope. 

Of  this  interesting  revival  Anna  was  among 
the  first  fruits.  And  we  are  gratified  that  we 
have  it  in  our  power  to  introduce  here  a  more 


20  MEMOIR  OF 

particular  account  of  her  conversion.  It  will 
be  read  with  the  greater  interest,  since  it  was 
furnished  by  one  who  was,, no  doubt,  instru- 
mental in  leading  her  to  the  Saviour ;  and  who 
afterwards  sustained  to  her  the  most  intimate 
and  endearing  relation. 

"  My  acquaintance  with  her  commenced  on 
her  return  from  school  at  Morristown.  She 
was  then,  as  she  afterwards  told  me,  thought- 
less and  unconcerned.  Not  long  after  tliis, 
however,  she  applied  for  a  class  in  the  Sabbath 
school,  of  w^hich  I  was  superintendent.  I  in- 
formed her  that  there  was  no  class  without  a 
teacher,  but  if  she  would  collect  scholars  and 
bring  them  into  the  school,  she  and  they  would 
be  cheerfully  admitted.  Accordingly,  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  weeks,  she  brought  her 
class,  and  with  them,  took  her  place  in  the 
school.  She  was  young,  and  inexperienced  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  her  new  station  ; 
but  she  appeared  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in  her 
Avork,  and  a  desire  to  learn  her  duty,  and  do 
it.  I  urged  upon  her,  as  well  as  upon  her  fel- 
low-teachers, the  importance  of  visiting  their 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  21 

scholars,  and  praying  much  for  them.  This 
troubled  her ;  for  she  said, '  How  can  /  pray  for 
others,  who  have  not  yet  learned  to  pray  for 
myself?'  To  relieve  her  of  a  difficulty  she 
felt  in  visiting  the  members  of  her  class,  I  once 
accompanied  her,  to  aid  and  encourage  her  in 
the  discharge  of  this  duty.  And  I  then  thought 
it  a  proper  time  to  direct  her  attention  more 
particularly  to  the  concerns  of  her  own  soul. 
The  question  with  which  the  subject  was  intro- 
duced— "  What  are  your  prospects  for  eter- 
nity ?"  appeared  not  merely  to  deepen  impres- 
sions already  made,'but  to  be  the  means,  in  the 
hands  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  of  planting  an  arrow 
of  conviction  in  her  conscience.  Her  serious- 
ness now  continued  to  increase.  It  was,  how- 
ever, known  only  to  her  cousin,"  now  Mrs.  R., 
*'  until  the  commencement  of  the  precious  season 
of  revival  enjoyed  by  the  Bloomfield  church, 
during  most  of  the  year  1830.  She  was  among 
the  first  in  that  revival  who  was  known  to  be 
seriously  inquiring  what  she  should  do  to  be 
saved.  Of  the  character  of  her  impressions, 
previous  to  that  time,  I  could  only  judge,  by 
3 


22  MEMOIR  OF 

hearing  her  relate  what  she  had  felt;  after 
this  she  frequently  and  freely  communicated  to 
me  her  feehngs.  And  during  the  time  that  in- 
tervened between  this  and  the  breaking  in  of 
the  first  ray  of  hope  upon  her  soul,  her  mental 
agony  was  extreme.  She  appeared  almost  in 
despair.  I  feel  that  it  would  be  utterly  vain 
for  me  to  attempt  a  description  of  the  agony 
which  was  depicted  on  her  countenance,  and 
found  vent  in  every  broken  accent  that  she 
was  able  to  utter.  So  great  was  her  distress, 
that  one  evening  after  the  family  had  retired, 
she  paced  the  room  for  some  time,  deliberating 
upon  the  easiest  method  of  putting  an  end  to* 
her  life,  and  thereby  terminating  her  present 
suffering!  All  this  distress  appeared  to  arise 
from  a  view  of  her  sins,  and  not  from  appre- 
hensions of  coming  wrath.  In  fact  she  ap- 
peared to  think  but  little  of  punishment  due  to 
her  sins,  except  when  that  subject  was  specially 
brought  before  her  mind.  But  she  obtained 
such  a  view  of  her  own  sinful  character,  as 
constrained  her,  in  deep  agony  of  soul,  to  cry, 
"  Behold  I  am   vile."      The  peace   of  mind 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  23 

which  followed  this  dreadful  agony,  was  not  of 
that  rapturous  kind  which  many  have  experi- 
enced ;  nor  was  it  introduced  suddenly,  by  any 
vision,  nor  by  having  her  mind  directed  to  some 
passage  of  Scripture.  It  was  calm,  and  serene, 
and  flowed  from  a  sweet  sense  of  pardoned  sin, 
and  peace  with  God.  She  felt  that  the  change 
was  wholly  the  result  of  the  Spirit's  agency. 
She  could  trace  it  to  no  w^orks  of  her  own ;  no 
agony  of  mind  on  account  of  sin  ;  no  tears, 
nor  prayers ;  no  penitence,  nor  formal  surren- 
der of  herself  to  God.  She  could  only  say, 
"  whereas,  I  was  thus  awfully  distressed  wnth  a 
view  of  my  sins,  1  now  feel  as  if  God  had,  of 
his  sovereign  mercy,  pardoned  them  all.'  Still 
she  hoped  tremblingly,  and  in  the  exercise  of 
constant  self-examination,  and  anxious  watch- 
fulness over  her  heart  and  life.  The  chief 
source  of  doubt  about  her  acceptance  with 
God,  was  the  fear  with  which  thoughts  of  death 
filled  her  mind  ;  and  never,  until  she  learned  to 
trust  God  for  dying  grace,  when  she  might  need 
it,  did  she  obtain  any  relief  from  these  doubts." 
It  is  not  the  least  interesting  fact  in  regard 
to  this  revival,  that  it  commenced  in  the  Sab- 


24  MEMOIR    OF 

bath  school  in  which  Anna  was  engaged  as  a 
teacher.  Previous  to  this  time  a  large  major- 
ity of  the  female  teachers,  though  amiable  and 
moral,  were  utter  strangers  to  the  love  of  God, 
and,  therefore,  unprepared  to  discharge  all  the 
duties  of  their  responsible  office.  With  a  view 
of  promoting  the  spiritual  interest  of  the  school, 
a  teachers'  meeting  was  established.  Its  object 
w^as,  by  mutual  instruction,  to  qualify  the 
teachers  more  thoroughly  to  instruct  their 
classes,  and  to  seek  the  divine  blessing  upon 
their  labors.  It  was  eminently  social  in  its 
character;  the  conversation  being  always  per- 
fectly free  and  familiar.  Its  influence  upon  the 
school  also,  was  soon  visible.  Those  who  at- 
tended it  were  evidently  interested  and  profited  ; 
and  the  Lord  owned  and  blessed  it.  Here  the 
movings  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  heart  were  first 
witnessed ;  here  the  first  contrite  sigh  was 
heard,  and  the  first  tear  of  penitence  shed :  and 
here  too,  the  first  note  of  praise  w^as  sung  by 
a  soul  renewed.  Precious  seasons !  they  can- 
not be  forgotten 

''  Whilst  iramortaUty  endures." 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  25 

There  we  prayed,  and  wept,  and  rejoiced 
together.  Endeared  friends  and  fellow-teach- 
ers, where  are  ye  now  ?  We  weep  to  think 
of  the  changes  which  the  last  twelve  years 
have  made.  That  circle  was  soon  broken. 
Distance  has  severed  us  far  and  wide;  and 
death,  who  respects  no  companionships,  has 
been  among  us  with  an  unsparing  hand.  Of 
those  who  yet  remain  to  cherish  the  remem- 
brance of  these  interviews,  a  few  still  take  their 
seats  in  the  village  church  ;  while  others  are 
laboring  in  distant  parts  of  the  vineyard.  But 
many,  alas !  are  numbered  with  the  dead. 
And  of  these  some  are  sleeping  quietly  among 
their  fathers'  sepulchres,  and  one  among  stran- 
gers in  a  far-off  land.  But  whether  distant  or 
dead,  ye  are  not  forgotten.  And  though  we 
cannot  meet  again  on  earth,  as  we  met  in 
other  days, 

"Yel  still  we  share  the  blissful  hope, 

Which  Jesus'  grace  has  given  ; 
The  hope  when  days  and  years  are  past, 

We  all  shall  meet  in  heaven  !" 


26  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

UNITES  AVITH  THE  CHURCH EFFORTS  TO  DO  GOOD 

EARLY    INTEREST   IN    THE    CAUSE    OF  MISSIONS 

CONSIDERATION  OF  HER  PERSONAL  DUTY PER- 
PLEXITY OF  MIND LETTERS ULTIMATE  DECI- 
SION  SCRAPS  FROM  HER   JOURNAL. 

The  conversion  of  a  soul  to  God  forms  a 
new  and  important  era  in  its  history.  It  is  the 
birth-day  of  a  new  existence — the  commence- 
ment of  a  hfe  of  faith  and  penitence,  of  prayer 
and  effort  on  earth  ;  and  of  unending  bliss  and 
glory  in  heaven.  At  this  solemn  and  interest- 
ing crisis  in  the  history  of  our  young  friend,  we 
have  now  arrived.  We  have  seen  her,  on  her 
return  from  school,  estranged  from  God,  and  in- 
tent upon  a  life  of  pleasure ;  we  have  seen  her 
overwhelmed  with  a  view  of  her  dreadful  guilt, 
and  almost  despairing  of  mercy ;  and  we  have 
seen  her  finally  a  trembling,  yet  joyful  believer. 
We  are  now  prepared  to  follow  her,  as  she 
takes  another  important  step.  Although  deeply 
conscious  of  her  unworthiness,  yet  she  longed 


MRS.  AN>CA  MARIA  MORRISON.  27 

to  take  her  seat  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  to 
commemorate  the  Saviour's  dying  love.  Sev- 
eral months,  however,  elapsed  before  she  ven- 
tured to  apply  for  admission  into  the  church. 
But  the  convictions  of  duty  at  length  over- 
came her  fears,  and  she  determined  to  enter 
into  "  the  fellowship  of  the  faithful."  It  was 
a  memorable  Sabbath,  to  the  church  as  well  as 
to  herself.  In  company  with  more  than  sixty 
others,  she  presented  herself  before  the  altar, 
and  there,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  cloud  of 
witnesses,  avouched  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be 
her  God,  and  joined  in  singing  the  appropriate 
hymn, 

•'  Lord,  I  am  thine,  entirely  thine, 
Purchased  and  saved  by  blood  divine  ; 
With  full  consent  thine  1  would  be, 
And  own  thy  sovereign  right  in  me,"  &c. 

it  was  a  scene  of  deep  and  solemn  interest, 
upon  which  God  and  angels  looked  down  well 
pleased  !  One  incident  connected  with  it,  we 
cannot  forbear  to  record.  The  pastor  had 
recently  been  bereaved  of  an  endeared  com- 
panion, and  his  children  of  an  accomplished 


28  MEMOIR   OF 

and  devoted  mother,  by  a  calamity  worse  than 
death  itself.  How  mysterious  and  melancholy 
such  a  visitation ! 

"  The  mind  was  still  all  there— but  turned  astray  ; 
A  wandering  bark,  upon  whose  pathway  shone 
All  stars  of  heaven,  except  the  guiding  one  !" 

Among  the  most  youthful  of  those,  who  on 
that  day  covenanted  to  be  the  Lord's,  was  the 
pastor's  daughter.  And  never  shall  we  forget 
the  thrill  of  emotion  produced  in  every  bosom 
when  her  name  was  announced,  with  the  sim- 
ple and  touching  remark,  "  She  comes  among 
you  to  take  her  mother'' s  'place  at  the  table.^' 

At  the  very  threshold  of  her  Christian  course, 
Miss  W.  determined  to  set  her  standard  of  reli- 
gion above  the  ordinary  level.  To  pursue  such 
a  course  as  would  merely  save  religion  from 
reproach,  did  not  satisfy  her;  she  aimed  to 
adorn  her  profession  by  a  "  holy  conversation." 
She  felt  and  acknowledged  her  obligations  to 
consecrate  her  all  to  God.  A  life  of  ease  and 
inactivity  was  what  she  neither  expected,  nor 
desired.  Accordingly,  she  at  once  engaged, 
with  zeal  and  energy,  in  the  work  of  Sabbath 


MRS.  ANNA  MAlllA  MORRISON.  29 

school  instruction,  the  naonthly  distribution  of 
rehgious  tracts,  and  in  other  benevolent  efforts. 
And  she  habitually  manifested  great  tenderness 
of  conscience,  and  anxiety  to  know  her  duty, 
and   to    discharge  it  faithfully.     Nor  did  she 
neglect  to  cultivate  her  own  heart,  but  sought 
to  make  all  the  means  of  grace  advance  her 
spiritual  interests.     With  a  circle  of  her  young 
companions,   she   was    accustomed    to    meet 
weekly,  for  the  purpose  of  prayer  and  religious 
conversation.     And  when  called  upon  to  lead 
in  their  devotions,  she  was  uniformly  fervent, 
earnest,  and  edifying.     Her  closet  was  now  her 
Bethel,  and  her  Bethesda;    and  her  Bible   a 
"  well-spring  of  life"  to  her  thirsty  soul.     She 
made  it  her  constant  companion  and  most  de- 
lightful study.     For  some  time  after  she  united 
with  the  church,  she  was  in  the  habit,  almost 
daily,  of  recording  her  religious  feelings  and 
exercises.     But  not  a  scrap  of  that  journal  can 
now  be  found.     She  felt  so  much  diffidence  in 
regard  to  her  own  abilities,  that  she  carefully 
concealed  every  thing  of  the  kind  from  the  in- 
spection even  of  her  bosom  friends.     And  it  is 


30  MEMOIR  OF 

supposed  that  it  must  have  shared  the  fate  of 
most  of  her  private  papers,  which  were  de- 
stroyed by  her  own  hand,  before  she  left  her 
native  land.  But  though  deprived  of  the  light 
which  these  records  would,  undoubtedly,  shed 
upon  her  character ;  yet  we  are  persuaded  that 
there  are  facts  and  impressions  preserved  upon 
the  more  enduring  tablets  of  many  hearts, 
which  will  not  only  fully  substantiate,  but  for- 
cibly illustrate  the  views  which  we  have  here 
expressed  of  her  Christian  character. 

But  while  Miss  W.  was  thus  actively  yet 
unobtrusively  engaged  in  "  doing  good  as  she 
had  opportunity,"  in  her  native  place,  she  was 
not  insensible  to  the  claims  of  a  dying  world. 
Her  feelings  were  early  and  deeply  enlisted  in 
behalf  of  Foreign  Missions ;  but  by  what 
means,  especially,  we  are  unable  to  say.  In 
the  recent  departure  of  a  near  relative,  for 
Syria,  however,  she  had  witnessed  what  the 
all-constraining  love  of  Christ  would  lead  even 
a  timid  female  to  sacrifice  and  suffer  for  the 
good  of  others.  And  as  her  interest  increased, 
she  read,  with  pleasure  and  profit,  the  Memoirs 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  31 

of  Harriet  Newell  and  Mrs.  Judson.  She  ad- 
mired their  character,  and  imbibed,  in  some 
measure,  their  lovely  and  self-sacrificing  spirit. 
But  still  we  are  not  aware  that  she  even  agita- 
ted, at  this  time,  the  question  of  personal  duty. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  before  her  attention 
was  specially  called  to  it.  And  a  brief  extract 
from  the  communication,  already  referred  to, 
will  place  the  matter  at  once,  and  in  its  proper 

light,  before  the  mind  of  the  reader.  Mr.  M 

says :  "  The  first  time  I  mentioned  the  subject 
of  missions  to  her  as  a  personal  duty,  was  a 
few  w^eeks  after  my  own  decision.  Although 
we  had  conversed  freely  together,  concerning 
our  mutual  attachment,  we  had  entered  into  no 
engagement.  We  fully  understood  each  other 
on  the  subject;  and  both  felt,  that  our  duty  to 
God  and  his  church  should  be  first  in  all  our 
plans  and  enjoyments.  We  therefore  felt  the 
impropriety  of  entering  into  any  engagement, 
until  it  should  appear,  satisfactorily,  that  our 
duty  and  inclination  were  consistent  with  each 
other."  But  notwithstanding  this,  the  question, 
as  she  viewed  it,  seemed  much  embarrassed. 


32  MEMOIR    OF 

And  in  considering  it,  she  manifested  all  the 
tenderness  of  conscience,  and  self-distrust,  which 
had  hitherto  been  developed  in  the  character  of 
her  piety.  She  trembled,  lest  she  might  be 
more  influenced  by  an  earthly  affection,  than 
by  her  love  to  God  and  sympathy  for  the  souls 
of  the  perishing  heathen.  Often,  when  the 
way  appeared  clear  in  every  other  respect,  she 
would  hesitate,  lest  she  might  be  deceiving 
herself  on  this  point.  She  felt  that  something 
more  than  this  was  necessary  to  sustain  and 
console  her  in  the  midst  of  the  privations, 
trials,  bereavements,  and  loneliness,  incident  to 
the  missionary  life.  If  she  would  expect  the 
supporting  grace  and  the  cheering  smiles  of 
God,  she  must  be  prompted  by  pure  and  benev- 
olent hiotives.  And  she  feared,  moreover,  that 
her  parents*  might  withhold  their  consents 
To  leave  them,  even  if  they  were  prepared 
cheerfuHy  to  acquiesce  in  her  decision,  would 
be  extremely  trying  ;  but  she  could  not  endure 


*  Her  father  was  married  acrain  to  an  amiable  and 
excellent  lady,  whom  Miss  W.  loved  and  respected  as 
a  mother. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  33 

the  thought  of  tearing  herself  away  from  their 
embrace,  while  they  were  unwilling  to  give 
her  up  to  such  a  self-denying  life.  Nor  were 
these  the  only  difficulties.  That  which  seemed 
to  her  the  most  serious  and  insurmountable, 
was,  a  deep  consciousness  of  unfitness  for  the 
w^ork.  Upon  her  mental  capacities,  as  well  as 
her  attainments  in  religion,  she  was  accustomed 
to  place  the  humblest  estimate.  She  felt  deeply, 
therefore,  her  great  deficiency  in  all  the  promi- 
nent and  essential  qualifications  of  a  mission- 
ary's wife.  Her  love  to  God,  and  to  the  souls 
of  men,  did  not  burn  with  such  intensity  as  to 
be  an  absorbing  passion ;  nor  were  her  intel- 
lectual capacities  of  so  high  an  order  as  were 
demanded  for  that  exalted  sphere.  She  had 
learned  something  of  what  the  station  required, 
in  perusing  the  lives  of  others.  And  she  felt 
that  she  could  lay  no  just  claim  to  the  deep  and 
uncomplaining  devotion  of  a  Harriet  Newell ; 
to  the  calm  endurance,  and  untiring  persever- 
ance of  a  Harriet  Winslow;  nor  to  the  uncon- 
querable energy  and  moral  heroism  of  a  Mrs. 
Judson.  While  she  might  be  useful  in  some 
4 


34  MEMOIR   OF 

retired  corner  of  her  own  land,  aided  by  the 
counsels,  and  cheered  by  the  presence  of  Chris- 
tian friends,  she  was  persuaded  that  God  did 
not  call  upon  her  to  assume  a  station  so  respon- 
sible and  conspicuous.  So  deeply  was  she  im- 
pressed with  this  truth,  that  after  a  painful  and 
protracted  consideration  of  the  subject,  she 
came  to  the  conclusion  not  to  give  herself  up 
to  the  work.  The  struggle  it  cost  her  was  most 
severe ;  and  for  a  time  seriously  affected  her 
health  and  spirits.  But  she  felt  it  to  be  her 
duty ;  and  she  resolved  to  make  the  sacrifice 
of  her   earthly  attachment.     Speaking  of  her 

conduct  during  that  season  of  trial,  Mr.  M 

remarks,  "  She  never  once  intimated  a  wish  that 
I  should  change  my  purpose.  On  the  contrary, 
she  expressed  her  decided  convictions,  that  I 
ought  not  to  think  of  remaining  on  her  account, 
^ut  that,  although  it  might  cost  her  her  life  to 
be  thus  separated,  she  w^ould  cheerfully  make 
the  sacrifice  for  the  interest  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  bid  me  God  speed,  and  follow  me 
with  her  prayers  while  she  had  breath  to  pray." 
After  her   decision  was  announced,  at  her 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  35 

own  request,  all  the  correspondence  relating  to 
this  subject  was  destroyed.  The  two  following 
letters,  however,  written  about  this  time,  will 
serve  to  throw  some  light  upon  the  state  of  her 
mind.  They  were  addressed  to  a  young  friend, 
who  seems  to  have  enjoyed  her  fullest  confi- 
dence ;  and  to  whom  she  loved  to  unburden 
her  laboring  heart. 

Bloom  field,  Feb.  21,  1836. 

My  Dear  E : 

Your  esteemed  favor  I  received  some  days 
since,  and  hasten  to  answer,  in  compliance  with 
your  closing  and  repeated  requests.  I  have 
not  by  any  means  forgotten  nor  undervalued 
your  kindness,  in  favoring  me  with  your  episto- 
lary effusions,  since  I  left  your  house.     No,  dear 

E ,  far  be  it  from  me  to  forget  one  with 

whom  I  have  passed  so  many  happy  hours; 
with  whom  I  have  talked  of  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows, trials  and  conflicts  of  our  journey  through 
this  wilderness  of  sin,  and  with  whom  I  have 
often  knelt  in  prayer  at  the  mercy-seat,  im- 
ploring the  blessing  of  God  upon  us.     Such 


36  MEMOIR   OF 

seasons  as  these  cannot  easily  be  forgotten ; 
and  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you  attribute  my 
silence  to  any  forgetfulness  or  neglect.  I  can 
assure  you  of  my  continued  attachment ;  and 
in  future,  will  venture  to  say  your  letters  shall 
all  be  regularly  answered. 

During  the  last  few  months  our  family  have 
been  much  afflicted  with  sickness ;  and  there 
have  also  been  a  number  of  deaths  in  the  circle 
of  our  acquaintance.  Some  who  bid  as  fair  to 
be  spared,  and  to  enjoy  the  degree  of  health 
allotted  to  them,  as  either  of  us,  have  passed 
through  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  ; 
and  have  gone  to  render  up  their  final  account. 
How  soon  we  may  be  called  is  known  only  to 
God.  0  let  us  live  in  constant  preparation  for 
that  hour,  when  the  Master  shall  come  and  call 
for  us :  let  us  have  our  lamps  trimmed  and 
burning,  and  be  fully  prepared  to  enter  into  the 
rest  which  remains  for  God's  dear  people.     In 

looking  back  upon  my  past  life,  dear  E ,  I 

cannot  but  regret  that  I  have  done  so  little  for 
Him  who  laid  down  his  life  for  a  revolted 
world ;  that  I  have  labored  so  ineffectually  for 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  37 

the  souls  of  my  dying  fellow-creatures.  0 ! 
can  one  so  worthless  and  undeserving  find  a 
seat  in  the  mansions  of  the  blessed  ?  Surely  1 
should  never  be  permited  to  enter  it,  if  I  were 
to  be  treated  according  to  my  deserts.  No,  if 
justice  were  done  me,  my  portion  would  be  with 
the  lost,  in  the  fire  that  shall  never  be  quenched. 
But  there  is  a  fountain  opened,  to  which  we 
may  go,  and  be  cleansed  from  sin  and  unclean- 
ness.  And  there  would  I  go,  vile  and  polluted 
as  I  am,  and  wash  my  soul  from  crimes  of 
deepest  dye.  Yes,  dear  E ,  this  is  our  pre- 
cious privilege.  Let  us  then  resolve,  in  the 
language  of  the  poet : 


*'  To  this  dear  fountain  I'll  repair, 
With  all  the  wounds  and  pains  I  bear, 
*ril  keep  my  station  near  its  side, 
And  wash,  and  drink,  and  there  abide  ; 
Nor  from  its  sacred  streams  remove, 
Till  taken  to  their  source  above." 


I  trust  you  enjoy  that  sweet  peace  in  believ- 
ing, which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take 
away ;  and  are  reaping,  daily,  the  reward  of 
your  labors  in  the  vineyard  which  God  has 


38  MEMOIR  OF 

given  you  to  cultivate.  Pray  for  me,  my  dear 
friend,  that  I  may  be  qualified  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  every  duty,  and  be  led  to  place 
implicit  confidence  in  Him  who  is  our  Advo- 
cate with  the  Father,  even  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous.  In  Him  there  is  infinite  fulness. 
Who  would  not  be  willing  to  make  any  sacri- 
fice required,  if  thereby  He  may  be  honored 
and  glorified  ?  I  am  sure  all  other  objects 
dwindle  into  insignificance,  when  compared  to 
this.  I  am  happy  to  hear  of  aunt  K.'s  decision  ; 
and  do  not  doubt  but  that  she  will  experience 
much  solid  enjoyment.  She  has  my  ardent 
prayers,  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  may  fully 
prepare  her  for  the  undertaking,  and  grant  her 
the  riches  of  that  grace,  which  is  promised  to 
all  who  trust  in  Him.  The  need  of  laborers  in 
the   field   is   so  great,  that  I  have  sometimes 

thought,  perhaps  E would  love  to  go,  and 

devote  her  time  and  talents  to  the  object  of  teach- 
ing the  heathen  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.  Surely  you  could  not  wish  a  more  de- 
lightful task.  But  I  must  leave  you  to  your 
own    reflections  on   this  important    subject ; 


MRS.  AMNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  39 

wishing  only  that  I  may  see  you  soon,  to  have 
some  conversation  respecting  it. 
Believe  me  ever, 
Your  affectionate  sister  and  friend, 

Anna  JVL  Ward, 

TO  THE    SAME. 

Bloomjield,  July  25,  1836. 

At  the  silent  hour  of  midnight,  when  all 
around  me  is  still,  I  have  seated  myself  to  con- 
verse with  my  dear  absent  E •.    I  delight  to 

commune  with  th>e  friends  I  love — in  whom  I 
have  entire  confidence — and  teJl  them  of  my 
joys  and  sorrows,  trials  and  conflicts  ;  for  in 
this  way  I  think  our  correspondence  may  be 
made  useful  to  .each  other.  How  often,  dear 
E ,  have  I  thought  of  you  since  our  separa- 
tion ;  and  longed  to  know  whether  I  had  an 
interest  in  your  intercessions  at  the  mercy-seat, 
or  whether  I  was  forgotten,  as  I  richly  deserved 
to  be.  Since  I  last  saw  you,  I  have  passed 
through  seasons  of  trial,  and  have,  as  I  trust, 
been  made  to  feel  the  folly  of  placing  my  af- 


40  MEMOIR  OF 

fections  on  transitory  things,  that  vanish  like 
the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew.  But 
my  Father  has  been  faithful,  and  given  me 
grace ;  and  I  trust  he  will  lead  me  in  every 
step  of  my  progress  through   life.     Thus,  my 

dear  E ,  may  we  go  on,  and  draw  water  out 

of  the  wells  of  salvation.  We  have  nothing 
but  what  comes  to  us  from  Christ's  fulness.  As 
long  as  we  look  into  our  own  hearts,  we  shall 
be  disappointed.  "  All  our  righteousnesses  are 
as  filthy  rags ;"  but  if  we  cast  them  from  us, 
and  look  to  Christ,  we  shall  have  a  spotless 
robe,  an  ample  covering  for  our  naked  souls.  I 
would  gladly  dwell  on  this  theme  till  morning 
dawns ;  but  I  should  be  unprepared  for  other 
duties  which  press  upon  me.  1  long  to  see 
you,  that  I  may  tell  you  more  particularly  of 
my  feelings.  Your  questions  in  regard  to  mis- 
sionary subjects  must  all  be  answered  in  the 
negative.  I  will  tell  you  more  particularly 
when  you  come.  I  must  close  with  the  earnest 
request,  that  you  will  present  me  in  your  pray- 
ers to  Him  who  heareth  the  cries  of  his  chil- 
dren ;  and  may  you  be  made  a  rich  partaker 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  41 

of  His  love,  and  lean  upon  Him  as  your  Sa- 
viour. 

1  am,  as  always. 

Your  affectionate 

Anna. 

From  the  general  tone  of  these  letters,  and 
the  manner  in  which  she  alludes  to  the  subject, 
it  is  evident  that  she  was  not  entirely  satisfied 
with  the  conclusion  to  which  she  had  come. 
And  the  reader  will  not  be  surprised  to  find 
her,  soon  after  this,  prayerfully  engaged  in  re- 
viewing the  grounds  of  her  decision.  In  doing 
this  she  soon  discovered  that  some  of  her  diffi- 
culties were  altogether  imaginary,  and  that 
others  had  been  greatly  magnified.  In  a  letter 
to  a  friend  she  remarks  :  "  At  times  I  feel  like 
giving  up  in  despair  of  ever  accomplishing 
any  thing  for  God-  But  there  is  a  bright  side 
to  the  picture,  and  I  sometimes  venture  to  look 
at  it.  In  the  building  of  the  temple  they  had 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water ;  and 
with  all  my  unfitness  and  utter  unworthiness,  if 
I  am  permitted  to  engage  in  the  most  menial 


42  MEMOIR  OF 

service,  and  perform  the  most  self-denying  la- 
bors for  the  advancement  of  His  cause,  I  shall 
have  abundant  reason  for  thankfulness  during 
life."  She  was  greatly  encouraged  to  find  that 
others,  in  whose  opinion  she  had  unbounded 
confidence,  judged  far  more  favorably  than  she 
could,  of  her  qualifications  for  the  missionary 
field.  And  she  learned  that  her  parents,  so  far 
from  interposing  any  obstacles,  as  she  had  an- 
ticipated, were  prepared,  cheerfully,  to  give  up 
their  claims  upon  her.  The  subject  itself  ap- 
peared to  her  in  a  new  light,  by  changing  the 
form  of  the  personal  question.  It  was  now, 
not,  Why  should  I  go  abroad  ?  but,  Why  should 
I  remain  at  home  ?  And  in  view  of  the  ama- 
zing disproportion  between  the  laborers  in  the 
domestic  and  the  foreign  field,  she  finally  was 
constrained  to  exclaim,  "  Here  am  I,  Lord, 
send  me  far  hence  to  the  Gentiles."  This  de- 
cision she  never  had  occasion  to  reverse,  or  re- 
gret. It  dissipated,  at  once,  the  clouds  of  doubt 
and  uncertainty,  which  had  so  long  hung  over 
the  future;  and  filled  with  calmness  and  joy, 
her  anxious  and  agitated  heart.     The  letters. 


RIllS.  ANNA  MAEIIA  MORRISON.  43 

which  follow,  will  more  fully  exhibit  her  views 
and  feelings  at  this  time. 


LETTER  TO  MR.  M . 

Bloomfield,  Dec.  17,  1836. 
My  dear  Friend  : 

Your  letter  did  not  reach  me  until  some  days 
after  its  date.  I  was  somewhat  anxious,  lest 
something  had  befallen  you  ;  but  it  has  taught 
me  a  lesson  of  contentment,  which  I  have  so 
much  need  to  learn.  I  find  that  the  safest  and 
best  course  for  us  to  pursue,  in  seasons  of 
trouble,  is  to  make  known  our  requests  unto 
God,  by  prayer  and  supplication  for  his  support 
and  guidance,  and  for  a  spirit  of  sweet  and 
cheerful  acquiescence  in  His  will,  let  our  situa- 
tion in  life  be  what  it  may.  I  think  I  have  felt 
the  happiness  arising  from  this  state  of  feeling, 
in  contemplating  my  future  trials.  If  my  path 
be  a  thorny  one,  I  have  the  precious  assurance 
that  He  will  be  with  me.  Since  you  left  I 
have  been  uniformly  happy  and  cheerful.  I 
have  conversed  freely  with  my  beloved  parents 
and  sisters,  in  regard  to  my  prospects,  and  laid 


44  MEMOIR  OF 

many  plans  for  the  coming  year.  But  they 
may  all  be  frustrated  ;  God  knows  what  is  best 
for  me.  They  all  seem  satisfied  with  my  de- 
cision ;  and  I  can  assure  you  they  never  ap- 
peared nearer,  or  dearer  to  me,  than  at  the 
present  time.  I  feel  under  manifold  obligations 
to  my  parents ;  but  especially,  that  they  have 
given  me  up  to  this  work,  not  knowing  what 
trials  may  befall  me,  which  it  will  not  be  in 
their  power  to  alleviate  or  remove.  As  it  re- 
spects your  choice  of  a  station,  I  feel  willing 
to  go  wherever  the  path  of  duty  may  lead.  As 
far  as  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of  informing 
myself,  however,  in  regard  to  the  proposed 
fields,  I  have  given  Calcutta  the  preference. 
Not  that  the  amount  of  suffering  will  be  less 
there  than  at  other  stations ;  but  only  that  I 
should  have  the  prospect  of  greater  usefulness. 
I  am  anxious  to  know  your  determination,  so 
that  I  may  look  at  some  particular  spot  as  my 
home.  But  I  feel,  however,  that  it  is  of  little 
consequence  where  I  spend  the  remnant  of  my 
days,  whether  in  India  or  China,  so  that  I  am 
faithful  to  my  trust. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA    MORRISON.  45 

I  called  on  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C ,  the  evening 

before  they  left  home  for  Boston  ;  found  them 

cheerful  and  happy.  Mrs.  C has  left  a  large 

circle  of  friends,  whose  faces   she,  probably, 
will  see  no  more  on  earth.  She  leaves  them, "  far 
in  heathen  lands  to  dwell."  Pray  much  for  me. 
Yours,  very  sincerely, 

Anna  M.  Ward. 

LETTER    TO   HER   TRIED   AND    DEVOTED    FRIEND    IN 
NEW-YORK. 

Bloomfield,  Feb.  19,  1837. 

My  dear  E : 

After  suffering  many  severe  struggles  in  my 
own  mind,  I  have  finally  concluded  to  follow 
the  leadings  of  Providence,  and  devote  myself 
to  the  service  of  my  Master,  in  a  land  of  dark- 
ness and  idolatry.  Our  field  is  Northern  India, 
and  the  station,  probably,  Lodiana,  nearly  four 
month's  voyage  from  Calcutta.  And  now,  dear 

E ,  you  w'ill  say,  surely  she  will  need  an 

abundant  share  of  grace  to  strengthen  her  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  duty.     I  am   aware 
that  nothing  but  His  grace  can  sustain,  and 
5 


46  MEMOIR  OF 

prevent  me  from  sinking,  amidst  the  trials  and 
perplexities,  which  will,  undoubtedly,  fall  to  my 
lot.  But  if  I  know  any  thing  of  my  treacher- 
ous heart,  I  feel  no  disposition  to  shrink  from 
the  privilege  of  bearing  the  cross,  or  lending 
my  feeble  efforts  to  aid  in  planting  the  standard 
of  the  Redeemer  in  some  dark  corner  of  the 
earth.  If  we  have  tasted  of  the  preciousness 
of  His  love,  surely  we  should  count  no  pleasure 
too  dear  to  sacrifice,  that  the  heathen  may  be 
rescued  from  their  bondage,  and  taught  the 
value  of  their  immortal  souls.  I  cannot  but 
write  freely  on  this  subject,  as  I  know  that  you 
feel  deeply  interested  in  my  case  ;  and  ardently 
desire  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
The  Lord  has  ever  been  better  to  me  than  my 
fears  ;  and  I  may  exclaim,  in  regard  to  myself, 
with  propriety, 

"  A  strange  rebellious  wretch  am  I, 
And  God  as  strangely  kind." 

It  seems  to  me,  also,  that  Christians  gener- 
ally are  not  fully  aw^are  of  their  obligations  to 
be  actively  engaged  in  their  Master's  cause. 
Truly,  "  the  time  is  short ;"  soon  all  opportu- 


Mils.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  47 

nity  of  benefiting  our  fellow-men,  will  be  at 
an  end.  Ought  we  not,  therefore,  to  do  what 
we  can  for  the  extension  of  that  blessed  king- 
dom, which  is  righteousness,  and  peace,  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost?  The  arrows  of  death 
are  flying  in  every  direction ;  and  erelong  he 
may  point  his  shaft  at  one  of  us.  What  we 
do  must  be  done  quickly.  The  time  fixed  upon 
for  my  departure  is  only  eight  months  distant, 
and  I  look  forward  to  it  with  a  degree  of  anxi- 
ety, and  interest,  almost  indescribable. 
Yours,  with  much  love, 

Anna  M.  Ward, 

As  the  question  was  now  settled  that  she  w^as 
to  spend  her  days  among  the  heathen,  Miss  W. 
felt  anxious  to  make  the  best  improvement  of 
her  remaining  time.  She  resolved,  therefore, 
to  turn  her  attention  to  those  branches  of  study 
which  seemed  best  adapted  to  render  htr  useful 
in  the  field  of  labor  to  which  she  was  destined. 
And  that  she  might  pursue  these  studies  to  the 
best  advantage,  she  placed  herself  under  the 
instruction  of  Mrs.  H.  B.  Cook  ;    a  lady,  in 


48 


MEMOIR  or 


whom  she  found  not  only  an  excellent  counsel- 
lor, and  competent  instructor,  but  also  a  warm 
and  decided  friend  of  the  cause  to  which  she 
was  pledged.  To  this  subject  she  frequently 
alludes  in  the  letters  which  will  now  be  intro- 
duced. 

Writing  to  Mr.  M ,  under  date  of  March 

15,  1837,  she  gives  an  account  of  another  in- 
teresting revival,  enjoyed  by  the  church  in 
Bloomfield. 

"I  suppose  you  have  heard,  through  Mr. 

R ,  of  the  rich  display  of  God's  love  to  this 

guilty  people.  Even  while  we  were  in  the 
midst  of  our  sins,  and  regardless  of  his  gracious 
favors,  he  entered  our  dwellings,  and  caused 
the  anxious  inquiry  to  be  heard  from  many  in 
our  midst,  "  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  V 
In  the  female  school  the  work  has  been  power- 
ful. There  were  but  three  professors,  including 
the  teacher,  in  the  whole  school;  but  before 
the  close  of  last  week,  we  could  number  thir- 
teen who  were  indulging  hopes  of  pardon  and 
acceptance  with  God.  To  me  it  is,  indeed,  a 
merciful  visitation.     W^hat  preparation  for  my 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORLIISOX.  49 

wotk  in  India  more  desirable  than  the  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  And  what  do  I  need 
more  than  a  heart  warmed  with  a  Saviour's 
love  ?  How  ungrateful  have  I  been  for  past 
favors !  Surely  God  is  a  Sovereign  full  of  for- 
bearance and  mercy,  or  I  should  have  been  for- 
ever cast  off  from  his  favor.  But  still,  though 
vile  and  unworthy,  I  rejoice  in  the  God  of  my 
salvation.  But  you  will  have  reason  to  accuse 
me  of  selfishness,  in  dwelling  upon  what  the 
Lord  has  done  for  me,  rather  than  speak  of  the 
goodness  of  our  covenant  keeping  God  to 
others.  Surely  you  will  unite  wdth  me  in 
praising  God  for  His  mercy,  in  entering  our 
family,  and  leading  my  beloved  brother  W 
to  consecrate  himself  unreservedly  to  his  ser- 
vice. Alas!  how  unbelieving  had  I  been  in 
regard  to  his  conversion  !  And  when  I  saw,  for 
the  first  time,  his  quivering  lip  and  tearful  eye ; 
and  then  heard  him  express  the  hope,  that  he 
had  passed  from  death  unto  life,  I  was  forced 
to  exclaim,  "  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help  thou  mine 
unbelief"  Perhaps  you  will  inquire,  what  in- 
fluence these  scenes  have  upon  me  as  it  regards 
5* 


60/  MEMOIR   OF 

my  leaving  home.  I  think  I  am  far  more  wil- 
ling, than  ever  before,  to  sacrifice  my  idolized 
home,  with  all  its  endearments,  and  subject  my- 
self to  the  hardships  of  a  missionary  life.  Yes, 
for  Zion's  sake,  and  the  glory  of  my  Master,  I 
will  go  with  delight,  though  I  may  be  exposed 
to  perils  on  the  sea,  and  on  the  land.  It  is  a 
privilege  to  be  permitted  to  bear  my  feeble  tes- 
timony to  his  dying  love.  And  I  rejoice  that 
the  time  is  drawing  near,  although  the  thought 
of  the  parting  scene,  at  times,  almost  unnerves 
me.  But  his  grace  will  be  sufficient  for  that 
time  of  trial." 

We  have  already  expressed  our  regret  that 
the  journal  which  Miss  W.  kept  for  some  years 
after  her  conversion,  was  destroyed.  And  the 
perusal  of  the  following  fragment  leads  us  to 
regret  it  still  more  deeply.  These  "  three 
leaves  were  snatched  from  her  hand,  as  she 
was  about  to  commit  them  to  the  flames." 

March  22,  1837.  How  much  I  prize  the 
society  of  the  dear  ones  at  home,  is  known 
only  to  God,2who  has  kindly  given  me  friends 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  51 

that  are  daily  manifesting  an  interest  in  my 
\velfare,  and  laboring  to  secure  my  happiness. 
The  thought  often  suggests  itself  to  my  mind, 
as  I  look  forward  to  the  hour  which  will  sep- 
arate me  from  their  embrace, 

"  Can  I  leave  you— can  I  leave  you  ? 
Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell  ?" 

Can  I,  for  the  last  time,  look  upon  the  en- 
deared forms  of  my  parents,  and  press  to  my 
agonized  bosom  the  circle  with  whom  I  have 
spent  my  childhood  and  youth  ?  Can  I  relin- 
quish my  place  among  them  at  the  family  altar, 
when  the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  is  of- 
fered ?  Oh !  can  I  leave  such  scenes,  and  seek 
my  home  'neath  foreign  skies,  and  take  for  my 
associates  the  degraded  Hindoo  ?  I  answer 
yes :  I  cannot  refuse  to  bear  the  standard  of 
the  cross  and  lend  my  feeble  aid  in  planting  it 
where  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  has 
never  yet  shone.  For  the  sake  of  the  dying 
heathen,  I  will  not  linger  around  the  dear  de- 
lights of  home,  precious  sanctuary  privileges, 
and  the  many  tender  objects  which  bind  me  to 
my  native  land.    If  I  can  trust  my  treacherous 


52  MEMOIR  OF 

heart,  I  long  to  make  the  sacrifice,  not  for  the 
sake  of  worldly  honor  or  emoluments,  but  for 
the  cause  of  my  crucified  Redeemer. 

March  25,  Saturday  evening.  Another  day 
and  week  have  almost  closed,  and  I  am  still 
spared,  a  monument  of  mercy.  Surely  it  be- 
comes me  to  abase  myself,  and  to  lie  low  at  the 
footstool,  for  my  sins  have  been  aggravated  in 
the  sight  of  a  heart-searching  God.  O  that 
the  law  of  God  were  written  on  my  heart  as 
with  a  pen  of  iron  !  I  think  I  have  had  some 
freedom  in  conversing  with  those  in  the  Acad- 
emy who  profess  to  be  God's  children,  respect- 
ing their  duty  to  labor  and  pray  for  the  heathen. 
It  may  not,  indeed,  be  their  duty  to  go  to  the 
heathen  :  but  it  is,  obviously,  the  duty  of  every 
one  to  make  personal  efforts,  somewhere,  for 
the  salvation  of  the  world. 

June  4,  Sabbath.  This  has  been  a  precious 
day  to  me.  Begin  to  realize  that  the  delightful 
seasons  which  I  now  enjoy  will  soon  pass  away. 
Soon  I  shall  hear  no  church-going  bell  calling 
me  to  the  house  of  prayer.  But  I  am  not  sad 
at   the   thought.      "  God   is   my   refuge   and 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  53 

strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble."  His 
presence  is  not  confined  to  temples  made  with 
hands,  and  he  has  said,  "  I  will  never  leave 
thee,  nor  forsake  thee."    His  promises  are  sure. 

0  that  I  could  trust  in  them  more  implicitly  ! 
As  the  time  of  my  departure  draws  near  I 
tremble  in  view  of  my  responsibility.  May  I 
be  faithful  unto  death  !  O  that  I  might  leave 
behind  me  a  hallowed  influence,  and  set  such 
an  example  as  is  worthy  of  being  imitated  by 
the  dear  little  ones  at  home,  to  whom  my  heart 
clings,  and  for  whom  I  love  to  supplicate  at  a 
throne  of  grace  !  0  that  my  dear  parents 
would  forget  the  follies  of  my  youth,  and  follow 
me  with  their  daily  prayers  that  I  may  be  made 
extensively  useful  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  ! 

1  long  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  the  Saviour. 
I  do  not  desire  to  live  at  ease ;  no,  I  trust  I  can 
rejoice  in  suffering,  if  Christ  be  honored  by  it. 
Why  should  I  hesitate  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
if  the  benighted  Pagan  needs  my  aid  ?  Why 
should  I  study  the  gratification  of  selfish  feeling 
while  the  cry  is  reiterated  in  my  ears,  "  Come 
and  tell  me  of  a  Saviour's  love."     Surely  it  is . 


64  MEMOIR  OF 

my  'privilege  to  labor  for  the  advancement  of 
the  Saviour's  cause,  and  I  will  surrender  my- 
self to  him,  to  be  disposed  of  in  the  way  that 
shall  best  please  and  honor  Him. 

June  7.  Attended  the  Sewing  Society  this 
afternoon,  and  was  reminded  that  I  should  soon 
be  deprived  of  such  privileges.  I  have  much, 
however,  to  make  me  happy.  It  rejoices  my 
heart  to  look  at  my  dear  parents,  though  bur- 
dened with  cares  and  anxieties,  still  cheerful 
and  satisfied  in  regard  to  my  future  prospects. 
Trust  I  feel  grateful  to  God  that  he  has  given 
them  hearts  to  love  his  cause,  with  so  much 
ardor,  that  they  have  freely  consented  to  relin- 
quish their  claim  upon  me,  and  bid  me  go  to 
make  the  heathen  blessed.  0  that  I  may  be 
successful  in  winning  many  souls  to  Christ ! 

Jane  11.  Hailed  the  return  of  our  dear  pas- 
tor to  his  flock,  after  an  absence  of  three 
weeks,  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. Attended  Sabbath  school  and  felt  almost 
discouraged  in  laboring  with  some  of  my  class, 
who  seem  careless  and  indifferent.  My  hope 
is  in  prayer  for  them  that  God's  blessing  may 


'  MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  55 

descend  and  water  the  seed  that  has  been  sown 
in  so  much  weakness." 

This  is  all  of  her  private  journal  that  has 
reached  us.  From  this,  however,  something  of 
the  character  of  her  piety  and  of  her  views  of 
the  missionary  question  may  be  learned.  But 
while  she  compassionated  the  distant  heathen 
and  longed  to  be  engaged  in  leading  them  to 
Christ,  she  did  not  neglect  the  souls  of  her  dear 
relatives  and  friends  who  were  unreconciled  to 
God.  The  thought  of  parting  with  them, 
while  in  this  dreadful  state,  was  most  painful. 
The  followinor  letter  to  her  cousin  is  introduced 

o 

to  show  the  pointed  and  affectionate  earnestness 
with  which  she  was  accustomed  to  address 
them. 

Bloomjield,  March  29,  1837. 
My  DEAR  Cousin  : 

In  taking  up  my  Bible  this  morning,  my  eye 
fell  upon  the  passage,  "  What  thou  doest  do 
quickly."  And  after  indulging  in  various 
thoughts  my  burdened  spirit  fled  to  the  cross 
to  plead  for  those  of  ray  dear  friends  who  are 


56  MEMOIR  OF 

"  aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel,  and 
strangers  from  the  covenant  of  promise,  having 
no  hope,  and  without  God  in  the  world."     I 

cannot  give  you  up,  my  dear  C ,  I  cannot 

relinquish  the  idea  of  hailing  you  as  a  brother 
in  Christ,  and  of  meeting  you  at  the  last  day 
with  a  crown  of  gold  on  your  head,  and  palms 
of  victory  in  your  hands.  I  can  tell  you  from 
experience,  of  the  preciousness  of  a  Saviour's 
love.  He  died  to  atone  for  our  sins  ;  and  can 
you  refuse  to  love  him  ?  Can  you  slight  offered 
mercy  ?  My  heart  is  pained  within  me,  when 
I  think  of  the  rich  provision  made  for  all  who 
will  accept  of  salvation,  and  yet  that  my  dear 
cousin  should  resist  the  influences  of  the  Spirit, 
and  treat  this  precious  Saviour  with  undeserved 
contempt.  "What  objections  have  you  to  Him  ? 
He  is  the  chief  among  ten  thousand,  and  the 
one  altogether  lovely.  He  will  never  leave 
you,  nor  forsake  you  ;  He  will  take  care  of  all 
w^ho  put  their  trust  in  Him.  0  !  I  love  to  tell 
you  of  this  friend  ;  to  speak  of  Him  as  the 
friend  of  sinners.  I  long  to  greet  you  as  one 
of  those  who  are  journeying  toward  Zion,  with 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  57 

their  faces  thitherward.  Do  you  ask,  How 
shall  I  become  a  Christian  ?  What  shall  I  do 
to  inherit  eternal  life  ?  0, 1  can  point  you  to 
the  cross ;  I  can  tell  you  of  joy  and  peace  in 
believing.  To  Christ  I  would  commend  you ; 
His  grace  is  sufficient  to  save  the  vilest  of  the 
vile.  As  a  lost  rebel  come.  Come  while  His 
hand  is  extended  for  your  relief.  Come  now, 
while  mercy  invites.  Come  just  as  you  are. 
Do  not  delay;  do  not  close  your  eyes  in  sleep 
until  you  have  made  a  full  surrender  of  your 
heart  to  Him.  Perhaps  this  may  be  the  last 
opportunity  that  you  may  have ;  do  not  slight 
it.  If  you  value  the  peace  of  your  parents; 
if  you  wish  to  gratify  your  friends,  I  can  as- 
sure you  that  nothing  will  afford  them  greater 
happiness  than  to  see  you  become  a  disciple  of 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus.  Oh,  my  dear 
cousin,  when  I  think  of  leaving  you — as  I  must 
in  a  short  time — never  again  to  see  your  face 
in  the  flesh,  I  feel  unwilling  to  endure  an  eter^ 
nal  separation.  1  could  leave  you  all  with  a 
thousand  times  more  cheerfulness  if  I  could 
only  have  the  prospect  of  meeting  you  in  that 
6 


58  MEMOIR   OF 

world  where  parting  is  unknown.  My  friends 
are  all  dear  to  my  heart ;  but  my  Saviour  says, 
"Take  up  thy  cross  and  follow  me."  That 
God  may  make  you  an  heir  of  bliss,  and  pre- 
pare you  for  an  entrance  into  heaven,  is  the 
prayer  of 

Your  affectionate  cousin, 

Anna  M.  Ward. 

letter  to  mr.  and  mrs.  s in  virginia. 

Bloomfield,  July  9,  1837. 
My  dear  Brother  and  Sister  : 

Did  I  not  feel  the  assurance  that  you  still 
claim  me  as  one  of  your  friends,  I  should  not 
attempt  writing  to  you  when  so  many  duties 
and  cares  press  heavily  upon  me.  When  you 
left,  I  anticipated  the  pleasure  of  maintaining  a 
regular  correspondence  with  you;  but  the 
necessary  preparation  for  the  great  work  I 
have  in  prospect  has  demanded  so  much  of  my 
time  and  attention,  during  the  winter  and 
spring,  that  I  have  found  it  impossible  to  de- 
vote any  time  to  letter-writing.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  pressure  of  necessary  duties- 1  have  not 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  59 

for  a  single  day  forgotten  you.  No,  my  dear 
friends,  absence  has  strengthened  the  bond  of 
union ;  and  as  the  time  is  rapidly  approaching 
when  the  reality  will  be  felt,  that  I  shall  no 
more  behold  your  faces  in  the  flesh,  I  am  forced 
to  exclaim, 

'*  Can  I  leave  you  ?" 

Yes,  I  love  you,  with  the  rest  of  my  dear 
friends,  more  than  at  any  former  period  of  my 
life ;  but  I  rejoice  that  I  can  add,  /  love  Christ 
more.  I  think  I  never  felt  more  cheerful  and 
happy  in  my  life.  Though  the  thought  of  sev- 
ering many  tender  ties,  which  bind  me  to  home 
and  friends,  is  painful  in  the  extreme,  yet  I  re- 
joice that  I  shall  be  allowed  the  unspeakable 
privilege  of  spending  my  life  among  the  hea- 
then. Though  clouds  and  darkness  for  a  season 
encircled  my  dwelling,  God's  presence  and 
favor  have  dispersed  the  gloom ;  and  he  is,  I 
trust,  preparing  me  for  a  place  in  his  kingdom, 
where  the  thought  of  separation  from  loved 
ones  will  not,  for  a  single  moment,  interrupt 
my  joy.     If  I  recollect,  Mr.  M told   you 


60  MEMOIR  OF 

when  we  should  probably  embark  for  India. 
There  will  be  ten  in  our  number.  0  that  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  would  raise  up  many  more 
laborers  who  shall  be  willing  to  go  and  pro- 
claim Christ,  and  him  crucified,  to  the  perishing 
heathen !  Why  should  we  study  our  own 
gratification  more  than  the  interest  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  1  Why  are  there  so  few 
willing  to  go  ?  I  am  struck  with  astonishment 
when  I  look  around  and  see  how  many  are  dis- 
posed to  locate  themselves  here,  when  thousands . 
in  other  lands  are  perishing  for  the  lack  of  know- 
ledge. O  pray  that  I  may  be  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and  be  prepared 
for  His  service  ! 

With  many  wishes  for  your  happiness,  I  am, 
Dear  brother  and  sister. 

In  the  bonds  of  Christian  love, 

Anna  M.  Ward. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  61 

CHAPTER  III. 

CORRESPONDENCE MARRIAGE DEPARTURE    FROM 

HOME JOURNEY     TO     PHILADELPHIA EMBARK- 
ATION. 

Whatever  the  world  may  think  of  missions, 
and  however  they  may  smile  at  the  scheme  as 
wild  and  visionary,  they  cannot  withhold  the 
homage  of  their  admiration  from  the  expan- 
sive benevolence  and  self-sacrifice  of  the  mis- 
sionary. In  devoting  herself  to  the  w^ork,  the 
delicate  and  timid  female  makes  the  costliest 
sacrifice  of  earthly  good.  In  the  bloom  of 
youth  and  health  she  leaves  the  bosom  of  a 
family,  where  she  is  the  light  of  every  eye,  and 
the  joy  of  every  heart ;  severs  herself  at  a  stroke 
from  the  society  of  friends  and  the  endearments 
of  home  ;  foregoes  the  privileges  and  pleasures 
of  social  and  civilized  life ;  and  goes  forth,  it 
may  be,  to  wear  out  long  years  of  toil  and  suf- 
fering in  a  distant  and  savage  land.  And  what 
is  the  impelling  motive  ?  Is  she  prompted  mere- 
ly by  romantic  feeling,  or  a  fondness  of  adven- 
ture ?  Is  she  aUured  by  hope  of  gain,  or  the 
6* 


62  MEMOIR   OF 

promise  of  distinction  ?  Oh  no  !  these  could 
not  enable  her  to  toil  on,  when  toil  seemed 
unrequited ;  to  suffer  cheerfully,  when  deprived 
even  of  sympathy ;  and  to  die  calmly,  though 
as  little  regarded  as  the  tree  that  falls  in  the 
depth  of  the  forest.  She  acts  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a  higher  and  holier  principle :  "  the 
love  of  Christ  constraineth  her." 

As  a  redeemed  sinner,  Miss  W.  regarded  such 
a  sacrifice  as  the  least  that  could  be  demanded 
of  her  ;  and  she  was  resolved  to  make  it.  She 
now  looked  upon  India — benighted  and  heathen 
India — as  her  future  home.  Although,  as  we 
have  seen,  she  was  slow  in  coming  to  this  de- 
cision, yet  when  it  was  finally  made,  she  enjoyed 
the  constant  and  delightful  assurance  that  she 
had  followed  the  guidance  of  an  unerring  hand. 
She  had  viewed  the  work  of  missions  so  long  as 
a  matter  of  personal  duty,  that  the  novelty  and 
romance  of  it,  which  sometimes  have  won  the 
ardent  and  enthusiastic,  had  lost  their  influence 
upon  her  mind.  Her  decision  was  made  after 
years  of  anxious  and  prayerful  inquiry,  and  in 
full  view  of  the  privations  and  sufferings,  the 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  63 

labors  and  trials  of  a  missionary  life.  And  as 
the  time  of  her  departure  drew  near,  she  looked 
forward  to  it,  not  merely  with  calm  satisfaction, 
but  with  ardent  and  earnest  longing.  The 
"Missionary  Soliloquy"  expressed  truly  the 
feehngs  of  her  heart : 

"  I  cannot  rest :  There  comes  a  sweet 
And  secret  whisper  to  my  spirit,  like 
A  dream  of  night,  that  tells  me  I  am  on 
Enchanted  ground.     Why  live  I  here  ?     The  vows 
Of  God  are  on  me,  and  I  may  not  stop 
To  play  with  shadows,  or  pluck  earthly  flowers, 
Till  I  my  work  have  done,  and  rendered  up 
Account.     The  voice  of  my  departed  Lord, 
<'  Go  teach  all  nations,'"  from  the  eastern  world, 
Comes  on  the  night  air,  and  aw^akes  my  ear. 

And  I  will  go.     I  may  no  longer  doubt 
To  give  up  friends,  and  homo,  and  idol  hopes, 
And  every  tender  tie  that  binds  my  heart 
To  thee  my  country. 

Let  me  but  know 
There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up  ; 
An  eye  that  kindly  watches  all  my  path, 
Tdl  1  my  weary  pdgrimage  have  done  ; 
Let  me  but  know  I  have  a/rie/ir/jthat  waits 
To  welcome  me  to  glory  ;  and  I  joy 
To  tread  the  dark  and  death-fraught  wilderness." 

These  sentiments  she  constantly  expressed, 
both  in  her  conversation  and  in  letters  to  her 
friends,  as  will  be  seen  from  those  which  follow. 


64  MEMOIR   OF 

TO  MR.  M , 

Bloomfeld,  July  12,  1837. 
After  hearing  of  your  very  uncomfortable 
ride  to  Princeton,  through  Mr.  R ,  my  anx- 
iety was  much  relieved  by  the  receipt  of  your 
last  communication  ;  and  I  have  abundant  cause 
to  bless  and  praise  the  name  of  our  covenant 
keeping  God  that  your  life  and  health,  thus  far, 
have  been  precious  in  his  sight.  The  encour- 
agements spoken  of  in  your  letter  were  truly 
strengthening.  I  do  not  think  I  ever  reflected 
so  much  upon  the  rich  and  abundant  supply  of 
food  furnished  for  us  in  the  promises  of  the 
gospel,  as  I  have  during  the  past  week.  Those 
marked  in  my  album  I  have  read  repeatedly ; 
they  have  been  unspeakably  precious  to  me ; 
they  seem  so  well  adapted  to  my  case,  that  I 
love  to  dwell  upon  them.  I  have  been  led  to 
reflect  more  seriously,  also,  upon  the  discour- 
agements to  be  met  with  in  a  missionary's  life. 
I  do  not  think  that  I  can  fully  realize  the  pecu- 
liar trials  and  difl5culties  of  our  future  course. 
But  I  can  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  going,  even 
when  enveloped  in  clouds  and  darkness.  I  have 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  65 

never  enjoyed  more  comfort,  nor  felt  more 
happy  and  cheerful,  than  at  the  present  time. 
The  Saviour  says,  "  Peace  I  leave  with  you, 
my  peace  I  give  unto  you."  It  is  a  peace  that 
springs,  therefore,  from  an  unfailing  source. 
Let  us  deposit  our  hopes  and  our  hearts  with 
the  Saviour. 

The  path  marked  out  for  me  has  for  the  last 
few  months  seemed  perfectly  plain.  I  do  not 
think  I  have  one  doubt  as  it  respects  my  duty 
to  go ;  nor  that  I  feel  the  least  disposition  to 
waver  or  relinquish  the  performance  of  what  I 
know  to  be  duty.  Our  communion  season,  as 
I  anticipated,  was  one  of  peculiar  interest.  I 
was  forcibly  reminded  of  the  time  when,  with 
many  others,  1  publicly  covenanted  to  be  the 
Lord's,  and  consecrated  myself  entirely  to  His 

service.      Mr.  J preached  for  us  in  the 

morning  from  John  xvii.  20,  21;  and  I  was 
struck  with  the  text  as  peculiarly  applicable  to 
the  occasion." 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Bloomjield,  August  10,  1837. 
I  trust  you  are  not  becoming  dissatisfied  with 


Db  MEMOIR  OF 

my  silence.  It  has  been  protracted  beyond  my 
expectations,  but  for  reasons  which  you  niay 
possibly  think  justifiable.  I  have  been  suffering 
from  a  cold,  and  for  a  time  was  unable  to  write. 
As  soon  as  I  recovered,  the  unexampled  kind- 
ness of  my  friends,  in  calling  upon  me,  pre- 
vented my  attention  to  many  duties  which 
devolved  upon  me.  We  were  gratified  to  hear 
from  you  last  week,  because,  from  what  I  had 
heard  and  read,  I  had  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  we  should  not  bid  adieu,  the  coming  au- 
tumn, to  our  beloved  friends  and  native  land. 
And  I  hardly  dare  now  indulge  the  thought.  I 
have  been  exceedingly  troubled  about  it  on 
many  accounts ;  though  I  trust  willing  to  ac- 
quiesce in  the  will  of  Him  who  in  infinite  wis- 
dom ordereth  all  our  affairs.  I  knew  that  our 
brethren  in  Northern  India  needed  and  would 
be  expecting  help  from  this  Christian  land.  I 
trust  also,  that  1  feel  an  increasing  and  ardent 
desire  to  be  personally  and  actively  engaged  in 
laboring  among  those  poor  idolaters.  I  cannot 
bear  the  idea  of  being  detained  beyond  the 
appointed  time ;  yet  I  fear  it  exceedingly.  The 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  67 

embarrassment  is  so  great  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land,  that  even  the  most 
wealthy  find  it  almost  impossible  to  give  of 
their  abundance  for  the  spread  of  the  precious 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.     I  need  not  tell  you 
that   this  state   of   suspense  is  by  no  means 
agreeable.     I  have,  however,  found  it  sweet  to 
commit  our  case  to  Him  who  doeth  all  things 
well.    If  I  did  not  think  he  approved  of  my 
present  course,  I  would  not  take  another  step  in 
it.     But  I  trust  I  have  sought  his  guidance  and 
direction,  and  that  they  have  been  vouchsafed 
to  me  in  seasons  of  trial  and  difficulty.     I  do 
not  doubt,  my  dear  friend,  but  that  all   our 
trials  are   sent  to  execute  the  purposes  of  an 
allwise  and  unchangeable  Jehovah ;   to  fit  us 
for  our  work,  or  prepare  us  to  enter  mto  the 
peaceful  abode  of  eternal  blessedness,  and  to 
join  with  seraphs  and  the  redeemed  host  in  as- 
cribing praise  to  Him  that  sitteth  upon   the 
throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  forever  and  ever." 
What  a  glorious  prospect !     And  can  we  look 
forward  to  it  as  ours  1     In  contemplating  my 
severest  trials,  they  sink   into   insignificance, 


68  MEMOIR    OF 

when  compared  with  the  glory  which  shall  be 
revealed  hereafter.  They  are  not  worth  a  mo- 
ment's anxiety,  when  w^e  think  of  the  crown 
that  fadeth  not  away." 

Under  date  of  August  31st,  she  writes  again : 

"  I  am  now  more  sensible  than  ever  of  my 
proneness  to  cling 'to  earth;  and  of  the  fond- 
ness with  which  I  cherish  creature  comforts. 
But  do  not  suppose  that  I  begin  to  repent  of 
my  choice.  No,  I  ask  no  greater  honor  than 
to  go  to  India,  and  labor  for  those  who  '  have 
no  hope,  and  are  without  God  in  the  world.' 
With  joyful  anticipations  I  now  look  forward  to 
the  time  when,  with  my  friend,  and  fellow-la- 
borers, who  are  unspeakably  dear  to  my  heart, 
I  shall  bid  adieu  to  these  delightful  scenes. 
My  heart  does  and  will  ache  at  the  thought  of 
parting  ;  but  His  cause  is  more  dear  to  me  than 
all  the  world  besides.  And  my  earnest  desire 
is  to  yield  cheerfully  to  God's  blessed  will." 

We  add  a  short  extract  from  a  letter  to  her 
dear  friend  and  correspondent  in  New  York. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  69 

"  I  am  still  expecting  to  sail  for  India  this 
fall— either  in  October  or  November — though 
not  without  some  fear  of  being  detained.  It 
would  be  trying  to  be  kept  back  another  year, 
merely  for  the  want  of  funds.  0  that  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  would  give  his  children  a 
spirit  of  self-denial  and  more  ardent  love,  that 
they  may  give  of  their  abundance  for  the 
spread  of  his  gospel  throughout  the  world  I 
Some  say  to  me,  "Your  sacrifice  is  a  great 
one ;"  but  for  my  own  part,  I  am  ashamed  to 
say  that  I  am  making  any  sacrifice  for  one 
who  laid  down  His  life  for  a  revolted  world.  If 
I  have  experienced  the  sweetness  of  his  love,  I 
can  count  no  sacrifice  too  great  to  make  for 
Him.  Surely  there  are  given  unto  us,  "  ex- 
ceeding great  and  precious  promises,''  and  can 
we  not  go  on  in  the  performance  of  our  duty,  re- 
lying upon  the  strength  of  them  ?  It  has  been 
my  expectation  to  spend  a  few  days  with  you 
this  summer,  and  I  have  waited  for  a  conveni- 
ent opportunity  until  it  is  too  late.     I  feel,  my 

dear  E ,  that  the  time  is  now  reduced  to  a 

very  brief  space,  and  the  responsibilities  resting 
7 


70  MEMOIR   OF 

upon  me  are  great.  But  then  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  we  shall  meet  in  a  purer  and 
better  world,  to  celebrate  the  perfections  and 
loving-kindness  of  Him  who  has  redeemed  us 
by  His  blood  ;  and  who  will  present  us  fault- 
less before  the  presence  of  His  glory  w^ith  ex- 
ceeding joy. 

This  is  the  sincere  and  earnest  prayer, 
Of  your  unworthy, 
Though  ardently  attached, 

Anna. 

The  subjoined  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr. 

M to  the  parents  of  Miss  W.  may,  with 

propriety,  be  introduced : 

"  It  affords  me  great  satisfaction  to  be  able 
to  say,  that  the  prospect  of  my  leaving  this 
country,  during  the  approaching  autumn,  is 
better  now  than  it  has  been  at  any  time  before. 
At  one  time  Mr.  Lowrie  began  to  think  that  I 
could  not  go,  on  account  of  the  limited  funds  of 
the  Board.     He  brought  the  matter,  however, 

to  the  notice  of  Dr.  P and  one  of  the 

elders  of  his  church,  when  it  was  arranged  that 


MRS.  ANfCA  MARIA  MORRISON.  71 

I  should  go  out  as  the  second  missionary  sup- 
ported by  them. 

I  have  just  enjoyed   a  very  agreeable  visit 

from  Mr.  Lowrie  and  Dr.  P .     They  came 

to  consult  me  about  a  change  in  my  location — 
a  chano-e  that  will  brinjy  me  somewhat  nearer 
home. 

So  you  perceive,  my  dear  friends,  that  the 
duration  of  our  personal  intercourse  here  on 
earth  is  reduced  to  a  brief,  a  very  brief  space. 
Two,  or  at  most  three  months,  will  in  all  proba- 
bility close  up  the  history  of  my  pilgrimage, 
and  that  of  your  beloved  and  affectionate 
daughter  in  this  country.  But  let  us  ever  re- 
member that  the  separation  must  also  be  brief. 
We  are  only  separating  for  a  short  time,  to  take 
different  roads  to  the  same  country,  that  is  an 
heavenly.  We  leave  you  to  pursue  the  beaten 
track,  lifting  up  your  hearts  to  God  continually 
in  prayer,  that  the  evening  of  your  days  may 
be  calm,  as  a  prelibation  of  heaven  ;  and  that 
your  setting  sun  may  be  one  of  brightness  and 
glory,  without  a  cloud  to  mar  the  grandeur  of 
the  scene.     And  I  cannot  doubt  that  the  sacri- 


i  Z  MEMOIR  OF 

lice  which  you  have  so  cheerfully  made,  will 
have  a  delightful  and  heavenly  influence  on 
that  solemn  hour.  How  different  will  be  your 
reflections  then,  from  what  they  would  be,  had 
you  withheld  the  offering  that  was  demanded 
by  the  Saviour  of  sinners.  Then  you  would 
have  to  lament  with  unavailing  sorrow,  that 
you  had,  merely  for  the  sake  of  personal  grati- 
fication, withheld  the  gospel  from  some  perish- 
ing souls ;  but  now  how  delightful  the  antici- 
pation of  seeing  your  beloved  daughter,  entering 
those  blissful  mansions  accompanied  by  a  mul- 
titude of  redeemed  spirits,  as  gems  in  the  crown 
of  her  rejoicing.  Your  dying  hour  will  reveal 
to  you  the  happiness  of  such  anticipations,  but 
I  cannot.  Heaven  and  eternity  will  reveal  to 
you  the  glorious  reality  ;  but  mortal  mind  can 
never  conceive,  nor  can  mortal  tongue  ever 
describe  it. 

We  leave  you  to  take  a  less  frequented  road ; 
one  filled  with  briers  and  thorns;  one  of  labor 
and  suffering,  but  not,  on  that  account,  less 
certain,  nor  less  bright  and  glorious  in  its  ter- 
mination.    We  go,  I  trust,  to  live  and  labor, 


MRS.  AKNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  /  6 

and  suffer,  and,  if  needs  be,  to  die  for  Christ ;  for 
we  have  put  on  Christ,  and  it  now  becomes  us  so 
to  walk  in  Him,  because  He  has  left  us  an  ex- 
ample that  we  should  follow  his  steps." 

After  perusing  the   foregoing  extract,  the 
reader  will  be  prepared  for  the  announcement 

of  Miss  W 's  marriage  to  the  Rev.  John  H. 

Morrison,  which  took  place  at  Bloomfield,N.  J., 
on  the  13th  of  September,  1837.  The  brief 
space  which  intervened  between  this  and  their 
embarkation,  was  mostly  spent  in  visiting  their 
large  circle  of  relatives  and  friends.  It  was, 
therefore,  a  time  of  continued  excitement  and 
trial.  But  the  desired,  yet  dreaded  hour  of  final 
separation,  at  length  arrived ;  and  her  friend, 

Miss  E V.  N ,  thus  speaks  of  it :  '-'  My 

last  visit  to  her  furnishes  hours  of  delightful 
contemplation;  and  the  scenes  of  the  parting 
morning  are  vividly  impressed  on  my  mind. 
The  calm  and  cheerful  manner  in  which  she 
united  in  singing  an  appropriate  hymn, — leading 
the  music  herself;  the  long  and  convulsive  em- 
brace of  her  dear  parents, — the  only  indication 


74  MEMOIR    OF 

that  her  circle  of  loved  ones  was  so  soon  to  be 
reduced  to  a  single  individual;  the  clearness 
and  coldness  of  the  morning ;  the  hoar  frost, 
with  which  the  whole  "  green"  was  covered, 
sparkling  and  glistening  in  the  sunbeams; — 
these  are  not  yet,  and  I  think  never  will  be, 
erased  from  my  mind." 

A  description  of  their  journey  to  Philadel- 
phia, from  whence  they  expected  to  sail,  is 
given  in  the  following  letter  to  her  parents. 

Philadelphia,  October  9,  1837. 
My  dear  and  honored  Parents: 

My  faithful  promise  to  write  to  you  has  been 
repeatedly  brought  to  mind,  since  my  arrival 
here,  but  I  have  not,  before  this  morning,  been 
left  long  enough  to  myself  to  fulfil  my  engage- 
ment. I  need  not  tell  you  of  the  many  painful 
struggles  it  cost  me,  to  tear  me  from  your  em- 
brace ;  to  leave  the  home  of  my  childhood ;  to 
go  away  from  the  protection  and  counsel  of 
those  who  have  watched  over  me  from  the 
cradle ;  to  leave  the  dear  circle  of  brothers  and 
sisters,  with  whom  I  have  taken  sweet  counsel, 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  70 

and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in  company  ; 
to  leave  the  place  of  my  birth,  the  mount  of 
gospel  privileges,  and  take  up  my  abode  in  a 
distant  land,  with  but  one  kind,  sympathizing 
friend,  for  my  earthly  solace,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  my  pilgrimage.  No,  my  beloved 
parents,  I  need  not  tell  you  that  the  separation 
pained  me  to  the  heart.  But  while  sorrowing, 
I  have  the  greatest  cause  for  rejoicing,  and 
praising  the  Lord,  that  he  has  thus  honored  me. 
As  much  as  I  love  you ;  as  tenderly  as  my 
heart  is  bound  to  you  all ;  I  love  him  still  more, 
and  I  could  not  return.  0  the  luxury  of  making 
sacrifices  for  him ! 

After  taking  the  car  at  Newark,  we  were 
rapidly  conveyed  to  New  Brunswick,  and  at  two 
o'clock  w^e  found  ourselves  at  Princeton.  As 
we  expected,  dinner  was  in  readiness  and  wait- 
ing for  us.  For  my  own  part,  however,  I  de- 
sired nothing  more  than  a  room  to  myself, 
where  1  might  pour  out  my  sorrows  into  the 
bosom  of  my  Heavenly  Father,  w^ho  has  always 
been  better  to  me  than  my  fears,  and  given  me 
grace  equal  to  my  day,  with  the  precious  assu- 


76 


MEMOIR  OF 


ranee  that  he  will  be  with  me  always,  even 
unto  the  end.  The  excitement  through  which 
1  had  passed  brought  on  a  severe  attack  of  the 
sick  headache,  and  I  was  obliged  to  retire  early, 
although  friends  were  constantly  calling.  On 
waking  in  the  night,  I  found  my  cold  so  much 
increased,  that  I  could  scarcely  speak  so  as  to 
be  heard  ;  but  by  taking  freely  of  the  cough 
drops,  w^hich  you  gave  me,  the  hoarseness 
gradually  left  me,  and  on  Friday  morning,  at 

ten  o'clock,  we  were  able  to  leave  P ,  and 

were  accompanied  to  Philadelphia  by  a  number 

of  dear  Mr.  M 's  friends.     I  must  not  omit 

giving  you  an  account  of  a  precious  little  prayer 
meeting,  which  I  shall  always,  while  reason 
retains  her  seat,  have  cause  to  remember  with 
the  liveliest  gratitude.     It  was  appointed    at 

eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  Mrs.  H 's, 

a  lady  with  whom  Mr.  M had  boarded, 

for  the  last  five  years.  She  welcomed  us  with 
the  cordiality  and  affection  of  a  mother.  The 
meeting  was   attended  by  some  of  the  most 

respectable  families  of  P ,  and  conducted 

by  Drs.  Alexander,  Miller,  and  Breckinridge. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  77 

Dr.  M addressed  himself  particularly  to  us, 

and  closed  his  remarks  by  saying,"  Finally,  my 
dear  son,  and  daughter,  farewell !  Be  strong 
in  the  Lord."  And  he  assured  us  of  their  con- 
tinued prayers  for  us.     Mr.  M was  much 

tried  in  leaving  P ,  where  he  had  spent  so 

many  days  under  the  care  and  instruction  of  his 
fathers  in  the  ministry.  I  need  not  add,  my 
dear  parents,  that  we  found  that  little  meeting 
very  profitable,  and  strengthening.  It  enabled 
us,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  go  on  our  way  re- 
joicing in  Him  who  has  marked  it  out  for  us, 
and  led  us,  as  we  trust,  to  make  a  cheerful  sur- 
render of  all  that  is  dear  to  our  hearts,  and  to 
go  forth,  in  the  name  of  our  precious  Saviour, 
to  the  poor  benighted  heathen. 

From  P we  took  the  stage  for  ten  miles, 

and  then  the  cars,  and  steamboat,  for  Philadel- 
phia, where  we  arrived  about  dark,  much  fa- 
tigued, and  almost  sick  in  travelling  through  the 
rain.  We  took  lodgings  for  the  night  at  a 
public  house,  and  found  ourselves  much  re- 
freshed by  a  comfortable  sleep.  In  the  morning 
Mr.  M called  on  Mr.  Lowrie,  and  found 


78  MEMOIR  OF 

him  quite  unwell.  He  also  met  Dr.  Cuyler, 
who  invited  and  urged  us  to  remain  in  his  family, 
during  our  stay  in  the  city.  We  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  were  cordially  welcomed  by  the 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  C .     We  have  been  urged 

also  by  other  friends,  to  make  our  home  with 

them  ;  but  Dr.  C claims  us,  and  will  not 

hear  to  our  going  anywhere  else.  I  mention 
this,  because  I  think  it  will  afford  you  pleasure 
to  learn,  that  we  have  found  very  dear  friends, 
who  received  us  as  their  own  children.  Our 
little  mission  family  are  to  meet  this  afternoon 

at  Dr.  C 's,  and  a  number  of  other  Christian 

friends  are  to  be  present.  We  have  been  on 
board  of  our  ship,  and  seen  our  captain,  who, 
to  all  appearance,  is  a  very  pleasant  man.  Our 
instructions  are  to  be  given  on  Tuesday  evening : 
several  addresses  are  expected,  and  we  are 
expecting  a  very  interesting  meeting.  *The 
mother,  brother,  and  sister  of  Mrs.  McEwen, 
with  whom  we  are  to  be  associated,  called,  and 
made  us  a  very  pleasant  visit.  Her  mother 
was  affected  to  tears,  on  being  introduced  to  me. 
And  now,  my  dear  parents,  do  not  look  upon 


MRS.  ANNA  MAKIA  MORRISON.  79 

me  in   any  other  light  than  that  of  a  happy 
child,  willinc^,  and  I  trust  ready,  to  obey  the 
will  of  Him,  who  has  pledged  himself  never  to 
leave  or  forsake  his  children.     I  do,  even  now, 
long  to  look  in  upon  you,  but  can  heartily  re- 
joice that  I  am  counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  Him. 
If  He  should  direct,  gladly  would  1  spend  the 
remnant  of  my  days  with  you  ;  and,  as  far  as 
it  might  lay  in  my  power,  in  making  your  path- 
way through  life  comfortable  and  happy.     But 
it  is  not  to  be  so ;   He  has  seen  fit  to  take  me 
from   your   embrace,   and   separate  me   from 
many  loved  ones,  to  assist  in  planting  the  stand- 
ard of  the  cross  in  distant  India.     And  yet,  I 
ask  myself,  can  it  be,  that  I  shall  see  your 
faces  no  more  ?     Shall  I  no  more  meet  with  the 
dear  circle,  when   assenibled  for  prayer,  and 
unite  my  voice  with  theirs,  in  singing  the  praises 
of  Him  who  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself 
to  die  for  us  1     Yes,  it  is  even  so ;  and  though 
painful  the  thought,  I  cheerfully  acquiesce,  and 
rejoice  in  the  privilege.     And  now  I  must  close 
by  requesting  you  to  pray  for  us  j  forget  us  not 
at  the  family  altar,  and  in  your  private  devo- 


80  MEMOIR    OF 

tions.     Farewell,   my   beloved    parents :    the 
Lord   comfort,   support   and    strengthen   you. 
Thus  prays. 

Your  absent  daughter, 

Anna. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  10th  of  October, 
a  public  meeting  was  held  in  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Boardraan's  church,  at  which  the  missionary 
family  was  present.  The  instructions  to  the  mis- 
sionaries, were  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips,  of 
New-York,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of 
Walter  Lowrie,  Esq.,  the  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary of  the  Board,  who  was  confined  to  his 
room  by  indisposition.  The  meeting  was  then 
addressed  by  Messrs.  Wilson  and  Morrison,  and 
also  by  the  Rev.  Henry  R.  Wilson,  Sen.,  father 
of  one  of  the  missionaries,  who  touched  every 
heart  while  he  expressed  his  readiness  to  give 
up  to  the  Lord,  in  this  sacred  cause,  the  son  of 
his  fond  affections, — his  only  son.  The  large 
audience  was  deeply  affected,  and  there  were 
few  present  who  did  not  feel  that  it  was  good 
to  be  there. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  81 

In  consequence  of  the  detention  of  the  vessel, 
which  was  expected  to  sail  on  Wednesday, 
meetings  were  appointed  for  the  two  following 
evenings  ;  one  in  Dr.  Cuyler's  church,  and  the 
other  in  Mr.  Boardman's.  The  missionaries 
were  present,  and  delivered  addresses  at  both 
these  meetings,  and  the  exercises  were  of  the 
most  pleasing  and  interesting  kind. 

The  ship  Edward,  captain  Cheyney,  in  which 
they  were  to  embark,  was  now  lying  at  New- 
castle, waiting  for  a  favorable  day  to  set  sail. 
And  in  a  note  to  her  brother,  written  from 
Philadelphia,  October  14th,  she  says :  "  We 
are  just  ready  to  start  for  Newcastle ;  and  I 
have  only  time  to  say,  farewell,  faiewell,  my 
native  land.  Full  well  I  know,  my  dear 
brother,  the  struggles  it  has  caused  us  to  part ; 
and  joyfully  can  I  testify,  that  the  grace  of  God 
is  sufficient,  even  for  this  time  of  need.  We 
shall  have  a  large  company  of  friends  '  to  ac- 
company us  to  the  ship.'  If  I  have  an  oppor- 
tunity I  will  write  back  by  the  Pilot.     I  could 

say  much  to  you  all :    but  sisters  S ,  and 

M A.,  will  tell  you   every  thing.     Do 

8 


82  MEMOIR   OF 

not  let  the  dear  little  sisters  forget  me.  Talk 
to  them  much  about  me,  and  about  the  poor 
heathen,  for  whom  I  expect  to  labor.  The 
Lord  bless  you,  my  dear  brother.  Be  faithful ; 
be  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  And  may 
the  Lord  make  us  all  faithful ;  and  prepare  us 
all  for  a  seat  in  the  mansions  of  bliss." 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  83 


CHAPTER  lY. 

SAILS    FOR  INDIA SICKNESS CORRESPONDENCE 

VISIT    TO    MADEIRA. 

The  love  of  borne  and  country  is  strongly 
evinced  in  Mrs.  Morrison's  farewell  letters  to 
her  friends.  The  struggle  which  it  cost  her  to 
leave  them  was  severe  and  painful  in  the  ex- 
treme. It  was  not  a  timid  shrinking  from  toil 
and  suffering :  it  was  not  the  want  of  faith  in 
God  :  it  was  not  weakness,  but  nature,  that  led 
her  thus  to  feel  and  weep.  Nor  does  it  dimin- 
ish our  reorard  for  her,  either  as  a  woman  or  as 
a  Christian.  When  she  became  a  Christian, 
she  did  not  become  a  stoic.  Religion  has  no 
tendency  to  seal,  or  dry  up  the  gushing  foun- 
tain of  sympathy  in  a  woman's  heart.  And  so 
far  is  it  from  chilling  our  emotions,  or  checking 
such  natural  tears,  that  not  to  feel, — not  to 
weep,  in  such  circumstances,  would  evince  a 


84  MEMOIR    OF 

want  of  humanity,  as  well  as  piety.  She  must 
be  something  more  or  less  than  woman,  who 
could  bid  adieu  to  her  home,  and  watch  the 
shores  of  her  native  land,  as  they  faded  forever 
from  her  view,  and  still  betray  no  emotion. 
Such  stoicism  and  indifference,  we  are  sure,  can 
find  no  countenance  or  justification  in  the  life 
of  Paul,  or  of  that  other  first,  and  greater  Mis- 
sionary. It  is  not  the  want,  but  the  sacrifice  of 
it  for  a  benevolent  and  holy  end,  that  entitles 
an  individual  to  our  admiration  or  respect.  But 
strong  as  this  feeling  seemed  to  be  in  the  bosom 
of  Mrs.  M.,  there  v^^as  still  another  there, 
more  powerful  and  absorbing.  The  love  of 
Christ  led  her  cheerfully  to  make  the  sacrifice, 
and  to  become  a  stranger  and  pilgrim  on  the 
earth,  looking  for  no  continuing  city,  until  she 
might  be  called  to  enter  one,  "which  hath 
foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God." 
Having  seen  her  bid  adieu  to  friends  and 
home,  we  are  now  to  follow^  her  across  the  deep, 
and  learn  the  faithfulness  of  God  in  her  Chris- 
tian experience. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  85 


LETTER  TO  HER  MOTHER. 

Ship  Edward,  off  JVewcastle,  f 
Oct.  16,  1837.     \ 

My  very  dear  Mother: 

I  presume  you  are  thinking  of  me  this  morn- 
ing, as  tossing  on  the  stormy  ocean  ;  and  won- 
dering how  I  feel  and  look  in  my  little  floating 
home.  Since  I  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  the 
Edward,  my  thoughts  have  frequently  turned 
homeward  ;  and  I  have  remarked  to  some  of  the 
brethren  and  sisters,  the  inexpressible  pleasure 
it  would  afford  us  to  have  you  look  in  and  see  our 
little  domicil.  We  left  Philadelphia  on  Satur- 
day morning,  October  14th,  at  seven  o'clock, 
in  the  steamboat  Wilmington  for  Newcastle ; 
where  we  arrived  about  noon.*  Many  of  our  dear 
friends  from  the  city  accompanied  us  ;  and  be- 
fore leaving  the  steamboat,  we  had  one  of  the 
most  interesting  meetings  I  ever  attended.  It 
was  conducted  by  Dr.  Cuyler  and  Mr.  Lowrie, 

*  The  mission  family  consisted  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
R.  Wilson,  Jr.,  Rev.  John  H.  Morrison,  Mr.  Reese 
Morris,  printer,  and  Mr.  James  Craig,  teacher,  with 
their  wives. 

8* 


86  MEMOIR  OF 

who  alluded  most  touchingly  to  the  death  of  his 
beloved  daugjhter,  Louisa  A.  Lowrie;  whose 
grave  we  shall  all  visit,  if  our  lives  are  spared 
to  reach  Calcutta.  A  copy  of  her  memoir 
was  presented  to  each  of  the  sisters  by  her  hus- 
band, the  Rev.  J.  C.  Lowrie.  After  the  meet- 
ing was  concluded,  the  small  boat  belonging  to 
our  ship  came  alongside,  to  convey  us  to  our 
new  habitation.  The  vessel  lay  some  distance 
from  the  shore ;  but  the  wind  and  tide  were  so 
much  against  her,  that  the  captain  soon  told  us 
that  we  should  not  get  off  before  morning. 
We  all  felt  some  unpleasantness  about  sailing 
on  the  Sabbath ;  but  concluded  to  commit  our 
way  unto  the  Lord,  that  He  might  direct  our 
steps.  When  the  Sabbath  dawned,  all  was 
calm  and  peaceful :  not  a  ripple  could  be  seen; 
and  it  was  soon  announced  that  we  should  sail 
on  the  first  ebb  of  the  tide  on  Monday  morning. 
This,  you  may  well  imagine,  was  most  agree- 
able to  our  feelings.  At  eleven  o'clock,  with 
the  consent  and  advice  of  our  captain,  we  had 
worship  on  deck.  The  sailors  were  all  assem- 
bled, and  I  was  struck  with  their  interesting 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  87 

appearance.  My  husband  conducted  the  ser- 
vice, and  preached  from  the  passage  found  in 
Rom.  10  :  4.  They  all  paid  the  best  attention, 
and  seemed  interested.  0  that  we  might  be 
the  means  of  good  to  this  interesting,  but  ne- 
glected class  of  men!  Do  not  forget  the  poor 
weather-beaten  sailor  when  you  pray  for  us. 
Our  steward  and  his  assistant  are  natives  of 
India,  and  speak  the  Bengalee.  The  first  day 
we  dined  on  board  he  gave  us  a  dish  of  rice 
and  curry,  of  which  the  gentlemen  seemed 
very  fond ;  but  as  it  did  not  look  very  palatable, 
and  I  feared  it  might  not  agree  with  me,  I  ab- 
stained entirely  from  eating  it.  We  have  on 
board  every  variety  of  eatables  which  can  be 
named  or  thought  of.  The  weather  has.  been 
so  mild  and  delightful,  that  we  have  not  suf- 
fered much  inconvenience  from  sea-sickness  as 
yet ;  but  probably,  before  this  reaches  you,  I 
shall  know  what  it  is  in  its  worst  form.  Our 
accommodations  are  quite  passable.  The  state- 
room admits  one  chair,  and  a  small  table,  which 
answers  the  purpose  also  of  a  wash-stand,  hav- 
ing a  bowl  fastened  to  it.     Our  berths  are  large, 


88  MEMOIR  OF 

and  by  far  more  comfortable  than  I  supposed 
they  would  be.  And  if  we  could  have  a  little 
more  air,  we  should  sleep  charmingly. 

We  shall  now  soon  dismiss  our  pilot.  And, 
my  dear  mother,  I  begin  to  realize  fully,  what  it 
is  to  be  wafted  from  my  native  land ;  perhaps  to 
visit  it  no  more.  Though  happy  in  my  choice, 
nature  feels,  and  I  cannot  but  weep  when  I 
think  of  you  all,  and  follow  you  from  day  to 
day  in  your  ordinary  occupations.  Even  while 
worshipping  with  our  company  of  sailors,  I  be- 
came lost  in  thought,  as  I  followed  you  to  the 
house  of  God ;  joined  with  you  in  singing  some 
favorite  hymn ;  visited  the  dear  Sabbath  school, 
and  finally  met  with  you  around  the  family 
altar.  .  But  our  Christian  privileges  are  great : 
our  captain  has  given  us  full  permission  to  hold 
religious  services  on  the  Sabbath ;  and  after 
we  get  regulated,  we  are  to  have  a  Bible  class 
for  the  seamen.  We  often  think  and  speak  of 
your  kindness  to  us,  and  bear  you  in  the  arms  of 
our  faith  to  a  throne  of  mercy,  while  we  plead 
that  God's  comforting  and  supporting  grace 
may  be  given  to  you  and  to  us,  to  sustain  us 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  89 

under  every  trial.  Surely  our  anticipations  are 
bright.  A  few  more  rolling  suns,  and  we  shall 
meet  in  the  New  Jerusalem.  And  the  Saviour 
will  not  only  conduct  us  safe  to  the  brink  of 
the  Jordan;  but  he  will  pass  through  it  with 
us.  I  rejoice  that  I  can  look  forward  w^ith  the 
cheering  hope  of  a  Christian,  to  that  hour 
when  I  shall  meet  the  many  loved  ones,  whom 
I  have  left  behind,  in  that  blissful  abode  where 
the  pangs  of  separation  are  never  felt.  The 
ship  is  now  moving  rapidly,  and  I  begin  to  find 
it  difficult  to  write;  but  I  will  copy  a  hymn 
which  we  all  joined  in  singing  soon  after  we 
came  on  board. 

'•  Hail,  sweetest,  dearest  tie* that  binds 

Our  glowing  hearts  in  one  : 
Hail,  sarred  hope,  that  tunes  our  minds 

To  harmony  divine. 
It  is  the  hope,  the  blissful  hope, 

Which  Jesus'  grace  has  given  ; 
The  hope,  when  days  and  years  are  past, 

We  all  shall  meet  in  heaven. 

"  What  though  the  northern  wintry  blast 

Shall  howl  around  thy  cot ; 
What  though  beneath  an  eastern  sky 

Be  cast  our  distant  lot ; 
Yet  still  we  share  the  blissful  hope, 

Which  Jesus'  grace  has  given  ; 
The  hope,  when  days  and  years  are  past, 

We  all  shall  meet  in  heaven  ! 


90  MEMOIR  OF 

"  From  Burmah's  shore,  from  Afric's  strand, 

From  India's  burning  plain  ; 
From  Europe,  from  Columbia's  land, 

We  hope  to  meet  again. 
It  is  the  hope,  the  bhssful  hope, 

Which  Jesus'  grace  has  given  ; 
The  hope,  when  days  and  years  are  past, 

We  all  shall  meet  in  heaven ! 

*'  No  lingering  look  ;  no  parting  sigh, 

Our  future  meeting  knows  ; 
There  friendship  beams  from  eye  to  eye. 

And  hope  immortal  grows. 
O  sacred  hope  !     O  blissful  hope ! 

Which  Jesus'  grace  has  given; 
The  hope,  when  days  and  years  are  past, 

We  all  shall  meet  in  heaven ! " 

And  now,  my  beloved  mother,  adieu.  In  all 
probability  this  is  the  last  letter  you  will  re- 
ceive from  me  in  many  months. 

From  your  devoted  daughter, 

Anna. 

letter  to  her  parents. 

Shi])  Edward,  near  the  Azores, } 
JYov.  13,  1837.      \ 

My  VERY  DEAR  AND  HONORED  PaRENTS  I 

Language  cannot  describe  the  feelings  of  my 
heart,  as  I  take  up  my  pen  to  address  you,  at 
the  distance  of  three  thousand  miles  from  my 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  91 

home.  And  though  I  rejoice  that  I  have  been 
borne  thus  far  on  my  voyage,  and  that  the 
winds  and  the  waves  are  still  wafting  us  on- 
ward, yet  my  soul  weeps  in  silence  at  the 
thought,  that  the  last  look  has  been  given,  and 
the  parting  kiss  exchanged.  Again  and  again 
has  the  fountain  of  tears  been  opened  for  my 
relief. 

It  was  my  fixed  purpose,  after  coming  on 
board,  to  prepare  a  journal,  and  have  it  in  readi- 
ness to  forward  from  Maidera,  in  case  a  favor- 
able opportunity  should  offer ;  but  so  far  my 
designs  have  been  frustrated.  As  soon  as  I 
began  to  feel  the  least  motion  in  the  vessel,  I 
was  attacked  violently  with  sea-sickness,  and 
owing  to  the  bilious  state  of  my  system,  I  suf- 
fered longer  and  more  distressingly  than  any  of 
our  company.  But,  my  dear  parents,  this  does 
not  conclude  the  history  of  the  sickness  through 
which  I  have  been  called  to  pass.  I  have  in- 
deed been  brought  to  feel  that  I  am  but  dust 
and  ashes.  After  suffering  for  about  two  weeks 
with  sea-sickness,  and  just  as  I  was  beginning 
to  regain  my  strength,  while  sitting  in  the 


92  MEMOIR  OF 

companion-way  one  morning,  I  was  seized  with 
a  distressing  sickness  at  the  stomach,  and  a 
violent  pain  in  the  head.  Mr.  M.  assisted 
me  to  my  berth,  where  I  was  taken  with  a  se- 
vere chill,  which  was  succeeded  by  a  high  rise 
of  fever,  and  pain  between  my  shoulders  and 
in  my  side.  Mr.  M.  determined  to  call  in 
Brother  Wilson,  who  had  practised  medicine 
when  engaged  in  the  Indian  Mission ;  and  in 
whose  judgment  we  had  much  confidence.  He 
pronounced  my  disease  to  be  congestion  of  the 
liver.  And  now,  at  the  expiration  of  two 
weeks,  1  find  myself  recovering  slowly  ;  though 
unable  to  sit  up  more  than  half  of  the  time. 

Our  voyage,  thus  far,  has  been  unfavorable 
for  recruiting.  Though  w^e  have  encountered 
no  severe  gales,  head  winds  and  calms  have 
marked  the  greater  part  of  our  passage.  As 
yet  we  have  seen  no  vessel  bound  to  iVmerica ; 
and  none  to  Europe  within  speaking  distance. 

I  often  felt,  during  my  sickness,  the  wish 
that  my  situation  might  be  known  to  you  ;  that 
you  might  sympathize  with,  and  pray  for  me. 
But  though  deprived  of  your  presence  to  ad- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  93 

minister  to  my  wantsr  still  the  precious  prom- 
ise, "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee," 
was  verified  in  my  case.  The  kind  attentions 
of  ray  husband,  who  watched  constantly  at  my 
side,  with  intense  interest  and  anxiety,  could 
not  have  been  surpassed.  And  I  shall  re- 
member with  the  liveliest  gratitude  the  kind- 
ness of  sister  C.  Though  to  be  candid  I  must 
say,  that  I  often  felt  that  it  would  be  delightful 
to  have  one  of  the  dear  sisters  from  home  with 
me,  to  whom  I  might  impart  every  feeling ; 
still  I  have  abundant  cause  to  be  thankful  that 
all  my  wants  were  supplied,  and  that  the  Lord 
made  all  my  bed  for  me  in  my  sickness.  I 
trust  my  trials  have  already  had  the  effect  of 
weaning  me  more  from  the  w^orld,  and  of  giving 
me  a  more  earnest  desire  to  be  engaged  in  his 
service.  And  instead  of  regretting  the  course 
I  have  pursued,  or  wishing  that  my  example 
may  not  be  followed,  1  hope  that  a  multitude 
may  be  raised  up  in  my  native  village,  and  in 
my  own  dear  circle  of  friends,  who  will  ere- 
long follow  me,  and  engage  in  the  same  blessed 
work. 

9 


94  MEMOIR  OF 

We  have  been  on  board  ship  four  Sabbaths ; 
and  have  been  permitted  to  enjoy  a  preached 
gospel  on  all  but  one.  The  audience  consists 
of  about  thirty  persons,  including  sailors  and 
passengers.  On  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
our  little  band  enjoyed  a  sweet  season  of  prayer 
for  the  cause  of  missions  throughout  the  world, 
and  for  those  dear  friends  from  whom  we  had 
recently  parted.  To  us  all,  it  was  a  precious 
meeting.  Though  unable  to  raise  my  head 
from  my  pillow,  and  suffering  much  from  pain, 
I  enjoyed  it  very  much.  We  hope,  after  we 
are  all  sufficiently  recovered  from  ill  health,  to 
form  a  Bible  class  for  mutual  improvement ; 
and  also  to  establish  a  prayer  meeting.  We 
have  two  cabin  passengers,  besides  our  com- 
pany, bound  for  Madeira ;  one  a  native  of  the 
Island,  and  the  other  a  young  man  from  Balti- 
more, who  expects  to  spend  a  few  months  there 
to  regain  his  health.  Sister  W.  and  I  have 
engaged  our  Portuguese  friend  to  procure  us  a 
good  draught  of  fresh  water  the  moment  we 
arrive.  Our  captain,  whom  we  find  very 
obhging  and  kind,  thinks  that  we  shall  remain 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  95 

there  about  eight  days.  We  have  also  ascer- 
tained that  there  are  two  ships,  bound  to  New- 
York,  now  in  the  harbor ;  and  we  are  anxious 
to  have  our  letters  in  readiness,  as  the  opportu- 
nity of  sending  thera  home  is  so  favorable. 

JYovember  15.  Very  rough  sea  this  morning. 
I  am  so  weak  that  I  can  scarcely  hold  my  pen. 
My  strength,  however,  is  returning  slowly,  al- 
though we  have  had  no  very  favorable  weather 
either  for  sailing  or  recruiting.  It  is  now 
twenty-eight  days  since  we  left  the  capes  of 
Delaware ;  and  we  have  had  but  two  days  of 
favorable  wind. 

LETTER    TO    HER    SISTER. 

Ship  Edward,  near  Madeira, } 
JYov.  21,  1837.      \ 

My  DEAR  SISTER  Emeline  : 

It  was  ray  intention  to  have  answered  your 

dear  little  note,  accompanied  with  the  sweet 

poetry  from  W.,  while  in  Philadelphia ;  and 

the  kind  attentions  which  I  received  from  the 

many  friends  of  missions  alone  prevented  it.    It 

is  not  yet  six  weeks  since  I  gave  you  the  part- 


96  MEMOIR   OF 

ing  hand,  and  I  am  now  almost  at  the  Island 
of  Madeira.  I  can  scarcely  realize,  dear  sister, 
that  so  great  a  distance  separates  us  from  each 
other ;  that  I  am  addressing  you  while  tossed 
upon  the  mighty  ocean,  with  the  probability 
that  I  shall  no  more  meet  you,  until,  with  the 
assembled  universe,  we  shall  stand  before  the 
judgment  seat  to  render  up  our  account.  Al- 
though, since  I  last  saw  you,  I  have  been  called 
to  pass  through  seasons  of  sickness  and  trial, 
still  I  have  cause  to  erect  my  "  Ebenezer,"  and 
say,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  me."  He 
has,  indeed,  cast  my  lot  far  from  you  all ;  and 
I  have  been  called  to  give  up  the  endearments 
of  home  and  the  blessings  of  civilized  life; 
but  still  His  hand  has  been  upon  me  for  good, 
and  I  can  exclaim,  "  Bless  the  Lord  0  my  soul, 
and  forget  not  all  His  benefits !"  Is  there  any 
thing,  dear  E.,  that  we  should  love  more  than 
Christ?  He  that  loveth  father  or  mother, 
brother  or  sister,  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy 
of  me.  If  He  is  the  supreme  object  of  our 
affections,  surely  we  can  rejoice  in  the  fact  that 
we  are  called  to  part  with  each  other  for  Him. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  97 

I  can  plead  the  same  promises  for  my  support 
that  I  could  if  placed  where  1  might  often  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  seeing  you  all.  I  have  the  same 
inexhaustible  fountain  of  grace  to  which  I  may 
go  ;  and  the  same  precious  Saviour  is  ready  to 
hear  when  I  call  upon  Him.  And  what  mat- 
ters it  then,  my  dear  sister,  whether  we  dwell 
together  or  are  widely  separated  1  A  few  more 
revolving  suns  and  our  race  will  be  run.  A 
few  more  days,  or  years  at  most,  will  land  us 
in  the  streets  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  where 
sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away  I  There  we 
shall  not  only  be  privileged  to  meet  and  enjoy 
each  other's  society ;  but  our  joy  will  be  height- 
ened by  the  presence  of  the  blessed  Saviour 
himself  None  but  myself,  and  those  who  are 
similarly  situated,  know  the  trial  of  separation 
from  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters.  But 
when  I  think  of  the  bondage  from  which  I  have 
been  rescued  and  the  debt  of  gratitude  I  owe 
to  the  Incarnate  Son  of  God  for  the  redemption 
which  He  has  wrought  out ;  and  then  cast  my 
eyes  to  the  other  side  of  the  globe,  and  re- 
member that  he  died  for  the  degraded  sons  and 
9* 


98  MEMOIR    OF 

daughters  of  India,  as  well  as  for  those  who 
hear  the  tidings  of  salvation  continually,  I  count 
the  separation  as  nothing,  if  I  may  be  the  means 
of  conveying  to  one  dark,  benighted  mind,  a 
single  ray  of  light.  Surely  we  were  not  placed 
here  merely  to  seek  our  own  gratification.  That 
Being  who  created  us,  and  gave  us  powers  to 
serve  Him,  hath  said, "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,"  and 
with  this  command  the  promise  is  given,  "  Lo, 
I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world."  No,  that  blessed  Saviour  has  not  left 
me  comfortless  j  he  has  not  called  me,  and  then 
forsaken  me ;  his  presence  has  been  my  con- 
solation. I  can  only  speak  of  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord  to  us ;  of  his  watchfnl  care  and  pro- 
tection, both  by  night  and  by  day.  "  As  the 
mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem,  so  is  the 
Lord  round  about  those  that  fear  him."  0  my 
dear  sister,  I  love  to  praise  him  for  goodness 
to  us.  I  love  to  leave  the  world  and  retire  to 
my  little  room,  and  plead  for  his  blessing  upon 
those  whom  I  love,  and  shall  see  no  more.  I 
often  sing  the  beautiful  hymn,  commencing, 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  99 

"  I  love  to  steal  awhile  away,"  &c. 
I  trust  that  you  will  "  pray  for  us,  that  the 
word  of  the  Lord  may  have  free  course,  and 
be  glorified  even  as  it  is  with  you." 

On  the  23d  of  November  she  writes  to  her 
sisters  J.  and  C. : 

"  Little  did  I  realize,  seven  weeks  ago  this 
morning,  what  my  feelings  would  be  in  address- 
ing you  ;  little  did  I  know  what  tender  recol- 
lections would  crowd  upon  my  mind.  Painful, 
yet  pleasing,  are  the  emotions  that  fill  my  bo- 
som as  my  thoughts  are  wafted  back  to  the 
home  of  my  childhood.  It  is  still  dear  to  me 
as  when  I  was  permitted  to  make  one  of  your 
circle.  Yes,  it  is  pleasant  to  call  it  my  home ; 
and  though  I  may  never  enter  it  again,  yet  I 
claim  a  oneness  of  spirit  with  you,  and  feel  the 
same  interest  that  I  did  in  those  days  and  years 
that  cannot  be  recalled.  Those  were  indeed 
happy  days.  We  took  sweet  counsel  together, 
and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in  company. 
We  joined  in  singing  the  praises  of  a  Father 


100  MEMOIR    OF 

who  had  given  us  hearts  to  love  him ;  and 
also  united  in  prayer  for  his  blessing  upon  us, 
and  upon  a  dying  world.  Oh  my  sisters,  those 
precious  seasons  have  fled  ;  but  how  sweet  their 
memory  ;  how  delightful  to  recall  that  season, 
when  we  felt  ourselves  to  be  lost  and  ruined 
sinners ;  exposed  to  the  wrath  and  curse  of  an 
offended  God;  and  then  heard  him  speak 
peace  and  pardon  to  our  troubled  souls.  Oh 
what  do  we  not  owe  to  the  mercy  and  conde- 
scension of  God's  dear  Son !  Let  us,  my  dear 
sisters,  continue  "  steadfast,  unmovable,  always 
abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord."  I  feel 
thankful  that  he  has  singled  me  out  from  many, 
much  better  qualified  than  myself,  and  called 
me  to  cross  the  stormy  deep  to  tell  of  his  love 
to  the  poor  Hindoo.  Although  I  feel  that  my 
love  for  you  all  has  increased  tenfold,  still  I  do 
not  ask  to  return  and  spend  my  days  among 
you.  I  only  ask  for  health  and  strength  to  la- 
bor in  his  cause;  and  for  more  of  that  spirit 
which  in  his  precious  word  is  made  the  test  of 
discipleship. 

"  My  health  now  is  almost  as  good  as  when  I 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  101 

left  you  ;  my  strength,  however,  I  find  returns 
slowly.  During  the  first  four  weeks  that  we 
passed  on  shipboard  I  was  unable  to  attend  to 
any  thing,  even  the  spreading  of  my  bed.  Since 
that  time  I  have  been  able  to  rise  in  the  morn- 
ing, attend  to  various  duties,  and  sometimes  to 
exercise  on  deck,  when  not  too  cold  and  wet. 
After  breakfast  I  spend  a  short  time  in  reading, 
and  occasionally  hold  sister  C.'s  little  girl.  We 
live  like  a  company  of  brothers  and  sisters ; 
and  I  am  often  reminded  of  the  circle  at  home. 
After  prayers  in  the  evening,  we  generally  en- 
joy a  season  of  conversation  with  each  other  ; 
and  sometimes  a  little  singing  ;  after  which  we 
retire  to  our  several  apartments  for  the  night. 
I  sometimes  think,  if  I  only  had  an  own  dear 
sister  with  me,  my  happiness  would  be  com- 
plete. But  [  am  content  to  be  situated  just  as 
my  Heavenly  Father  has  placed  me,  for  he 
knows  what  is  best  for  me.  There  has  been  so 
much  monotony  in  our  voyage,  thus  far,  that  I 
fear  my  letters  will  not  be  very  interesting  to 
you.  Pray  much  for  me,  dear  sisters,  and  allow 
me  to  breathe  once  more  the  word,  "  farewell." 


102  MEMOIR  OF 

*  Farewell,  but  not  forever, 
We  soon  shall  meet  above, 
To  dwell  with  Jesus  ever, 
And  sing  redeeming  love.'  " 

A  short  extract  from  a  letter  to  one  of  her 
brothers,  will  show  the  deep  and  tender  solici- 
tude she  felt  for  those  whom  she  left  without 
any  hope  in  Christ. 

"  The  interest  I  feel  in  you,  my  dear  brother, 
as  it  respects  your  spiritual  welfare,  is  not  of 
recent  date.  The  tears  I  have  shed  and  the 
prayers  I  have  offered,  are  known  only  to  the 
Searcher  of  hearts.  I  trust  that  I  have  been 
called,  through  the  free  and  sovereign  grace  of 
God,  from  nature's  darkness  into  the  marvel- 
lous light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel ;  and  that 
when  I  shall  have  done  with  all  things  here  ; 
when  time  with  me  shall  be  no  more ;  my  spirit 
will  ascend,  and  with  the  glorified  millions 
adore  the  matchless  grace  of  which  I  have  been 
made  a  rich  partaker.  As  I  look  around  on 
the  dear  circle  of  loved  ones,  whom  I  have  no 
expectation  of  meeting  again  until  the  resur- 
rection morning,  I  cannot  but  feel  a  deep  anx- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  103 

iety  for  those  of  our  clear  family  whom  I  have 
left  without  any  interest  in  that  sacrifice  which 
w^as  made  by  the  death  of  God's  dear  Son. 
Why  not  now,  my  dear  brother,  while  the 
day  of  grace  is  lengthened  out,  accept  the  offers 
of  mercy  and  take  the  Saviour  for  your  friend 
and  portion.  You  know  with  what  earnestness 
I  have  plead  with  you  in  days  and  years  past ; 
and  now  w'hen  I  can  see  you  no  more,  will  you 
not  remember  the  admonition  ?  It  was  my  last 
request  when  I  gave  you  the  parting  hand  ;  and 
it  is  still  all  that  I  have  to  ask  of  you.  If  you 
choose  the  Saviour  as  your  friend,  you  will  have 
nothing  to  fear.  He  will  guide  you  safely 
through  the  storms  and  adversities  of  life ;  he 
will  go  with  you  *  through  the  dark  valley  and 
the  shadowof  death  ;'  and  finally  he  will  con- 
duct you  to  the  New^  Jerusalem,  where  you 
shall  go  no  more  out  forever.  0  how  long  be 
has  borne  wiih  you !  and  can  you  still  turn  your 
back  upon  him  ?  Can  you,  while  he  yet  stands 
pleading,  refuse  his  offers]  It  is  surely  the 
part  of  wisdom  to  make  him  your  friend.  To 
think  of  your  being  lost,  lost  forever !  Oh  !  with 


104  MEMOIR  OF 

what  anguish  of  spirit  I  repeat  the  word  lost. 
Can  I  bear  the  thought  that  one  of  our  little 
circle  should  have  the  sentence,  "  Depart  ye 
cursed,"  pronounced  upon  them  ?  0  listen  to 
the  invitations  of  the  gospel,  lest,  when  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Majesty  of  Heaven, 
you  lament,  with  bitter  lamentation,  your  folly 
in  neglecting  these  things  until  it  was  too  late." 

The  following  letter,  containing  an  account 
of  her  visit  to  the  Island  of  Madeira,  is  ad- 
dressed to  two  of  her  younger  brothers ;  one  of 
whom  has  since  been  called  away  in  the  joyful 
hope  of  a  blessed  immortality,  to  join  his  be- 
loved sister  in  a  better  world. 

Funchal  City,  Island  of  Madeira,  } 
Dec.  1,  1837.      \ 

My  dear  Brothers  : 

We  have  at  length  arrived  at  the  beautiful 
Island  of  Madeira.  Our  ship  anchored  in  the 
harbor  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  Novem- 
ber. None  of  our  company,  however,  left  the 
vessel  until  the  next  day ;  and  then  only  the 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MOURISON.  105 

gentlemen.  They  delivered  their  letters  of  in- 
troduction to  Mr.  Paine,  an  English  gentleman 
with  whom  Mr.  Lowrie  staid  while  at  the  Island, 
and  returned  in  the  afternoon,  bringing  us  or- 
anges, lemons,  green  figs,  bananas,  guavas,  Ma- 
deira nuts,  apples,  and  a  demijohn  of  delightful 
fresh  water.  As  soon  as  our  good  captain 
went  on  shore  he  sent  us  some  fine  beef,  cab- 
bage, turnips,  and  baker's  bread.  And  we 
have  also  had  fresh  fish,  which  very  much  re- 
semble our  shad. 

Several  of  our  company  went  on  shore  yes- 
terday, but  as  sister  W.  was  just  recovering 
from  an  attack  of  sickness,  and  not  able  to  go, 
I  remained  with  her  until  this  morning,  which 
is  the  first  day  of  winter  in  America.  We  rose 
quite  early,  dressed  ourselves,  and  breakfasted 
on  board;  and  then  were  raised  successively  in 
a  large  arm-chair  by  a  tackle,  and  let  down 
gently,  though  with  perturbation,  into  a  little 
Portuguese  surf-boat ;  which  was  rowed  by  two 
natives.  In  about  half  an  hour  we  were  landed 
safely  on  the  beach.  We  were  immediately 
accosted  and  beset  by  beggars,  from  whom  we 
10 


106  MEMOIR   OP 

had  some  difficulty  to  rid  ourselves.  They  are 
probably  impostors,  who  station  themselves  on 
the  beach  for  the  sole  purpose  of  annoying  all 
who  may  land.  The  city  of  Funchal  is  walled, 
and  subject  to  Portugal ;  we  accordingly  were 
obliged  to  pass  through  gates  before  we  could 
enter  it.  The  inhabitants  are  as  dark  colored 
as  our  mulattoes ;  and  the  first  thing  that  at- 
tracted my  attention  was  the  cap  worn  by  them. 
It  is  made  of  blue  cloth  in  the  shape  of  a  cone, 
of  about  six  inches  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and 
some  half  a  foot  or  more  in  height.  It  has  no 
brim  at  all,  and  covers,  at  most,  not  more  than 
the  fourth  part  of  the  head.  It  was  a  mystery 
to  us  all  how  they  were  kept  on  the  head  ;  un- 
less there  is  some  strong  affinity  between  the 
head  and  cap.  Their  dress,  generally,  consists 
of  a  shirt  and  pantaloons,  without  suspenders, 
but  gathered  on  a  band  around  the  waist  and 
knees. 

After  passing  through  the  gates  and  walking 
a  short  distance  we  were  met  by  Mr.  Barr, 
from  England ;  a  pious  man,  who  has  resided 
on  the  Island  for  the  last  five  years,  and  is  en- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  107 

gaged  in  business.  He  very  kindly  offered  his 
services  to  show  us  any  part  of  the  city.  We 
passed  the  Governor's  palace,  a  massive  old, 
fashioned  house  guarded  by  sentinels  in  uniform, 
and  several  other  buildings  which  attracted  our 
attention.  Finally  we  arrived  at  the  English 
burying  ground,  which  is  entered  through  mas- 
sive gates.  I  was  perfectly  astonished  to  wit- 
ness the  beauty  and  regularity  which  charac- 
terize it.  The  avenues  are  sufficiently  broad 
for  two  to  walk  abreast ;  there  is  a  hedge  row 
of  different  kinds  of  geraniums,  all  in  bloom, 
and  growing  as  luxuriantly  as  weeds  in  Amer- 
ica. The  graves  are  nearly  all  covered  with 
vines  of  very  rich  roses.  The  geraniums  and 
other  flowers,  many  of  which  I  have  seen  at 
home,  grow  here  spontaneously ;  and  their  fra- 
grance far  exceeds  the  American.  While 
passing  along  the  streets  I  could  not  help  ad- 
miring large  branches  running  over  the  top  of 
high  walls,  all  in  bloom,  thinking  what  delight 

it  would  afford  Mr.  J to  see  plants  as  large 

as  many  of  the  small  trees  at  home,  which  he 
would  spend  years  in  cultivating.    The  orange 


108  MEMOIR    OF 

and  lemon  trees  are  many  of  them  as  large  as 
our  apple  trees ;  they  are  loaded  with  fruit,  and 
the  ground  under  them  is  literally  covered. 
They  are  more  plentiful  than  apples  in  our 
fruitful  seasons.  But  I  cannot  give  you  any 
description  of  the  city,  its  inhabitants,  its  fruits, 
or  its  flowers. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.,  Mr.  M.  and  myself  are 
now  at  Mr.  Paine's.  His  residence  is  situated 
on  a  hill ;  and  the  house  is  large  and  old-fash- 
ioned ;  the  rooms  are  of  enormous  size.  We 
dined  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  on  boiled 
fish,  roast  beef  and  mutton ;  then  rice  pudding 
and  stewed  banana;  and  afterwards  oranges 
and  apples  were  served.  The  garden  attached 
to  the  house  is  very  splendid ;  containing  flow- 
ers of  the  richest  hue,  and  some  of  the  finest 
trees  I  ever  beheld.  We  can  scarcely  look  out 
from  a  window  in  the  building  without  seeing 
large  orange  and  lemon  trees  with  their  limbs 
bending  with  the  weight  of  the  fruit.  We  ex- 
pect to  leave  here  to-morrow  and  return  to  our 
ship ;  feeling  truly  thankful  that  we  have  been 
permitted  to  enjoy  so  delightful  a  visit.     Our 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA   MORRISON.  109 

ship  will  sail  again  on  Monday  ;  and  we  are 
all  anxious  to  get  off,  though  every  thing  is 
calculated  to  please  us.  Although  it  is  the 
first  of  December,  it  is  as  warm  as  summer 
with  you.  The  air  is  clear,  and  the  most  pure 
and  healthy  in  the  world.  I  wish  you  and  my 
dear  little  sisters  F.  and  C.  were  by  my  side. 
I  think  you  would  be  delighted  to  hear  the 
sweet  birds  warbling  their  notes  of  praise  to 
Him  who  made  them.  Every  few  moments  I 
stop  writing  and  look  out  of  the  window,  and 
listen  to  their  melodious  voices.  1  must  not 
omit  telling  you  how  Mrs.  W.  and  myself  were 
conveyed  to  Mr.  Paine's.  They  have  no  car- 
riages or  horses  here,  except  a  few  which  I 
suppose  are  brought  from  England  or  America. 
The  ladies  ride  in  what  are  called  palanquins. 
They  are  shaped  very  much  like  a  cradle; 
made  of  wood  and  painted  green  or  yellow. 
There  is  a  strip  of  carpeting  on  the  bottom ; 
and  a  small  cushion,  covered  with  calico,  to  sit 
upon.  The  back  is  made  just  like  an  old-fash- 
ioned arm-chair ;  and  over  our  heads,  as  we  sit 
^n  it,  are  two  long  stout  poles,  that  rest  on  the 
10^ 


110  MEMOIR  OF 

shoulders  of  four  men,  two  before  and  two 
behind.  And  across  these  poles  is  thrown  a 
large  calico  spread,  designed  to  cover  you  up 
entirely.  But  wishing  to  see  all  we  could  of 
the  gardens  and  vineyards,  we  concluded  to 
deviate  a  little  from  the  Portuguese  custom  and 
ride  uncovered.  The  houses  here  are  two  and 
sometimes  three  stories  high,  built  of  stone,  plas- 
tered and  whitewashed.  They  appear  very  old  ; 
but  at  a  distance  look  remarkably  neat  and  clean. 
Every  foot  of  ground  is  cultivated,  and  mostly 
in  vineyards.  They  had  gathered  their  grapes 
and  made  their  wine  before  we  arrived.  There 
are  about  thirty  thousand  inhabitants  on  the 
Island,  and  most  of  them  are  Roman  Catholics. 

When  on  the  eve  of  sailing  she  adds  in  a 
postscript  to  her  brother  W. : 

"We  are  almost  ready  to  weigh  anchor; 
and  take  our  final  leave  of  this  beautiful  Island. 
Brother  Wilson  and  Mr.  M.  are  very  busily 
engaged  in  sealing  up  bottles  of  fresh  water. 
We  found  our  water  so  very  unpleasant,  partic- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  Ill 

ularly  in  sickness,  that  we  begged  of  them  to 
take  some  empty  bottles  and  fill  them  with 
fresh  water.  My  health  has  been  greatly  bene- 
fited by  our  visit  to  the  Island,  and  the  exer- 
cise I  have  taken.  I  hope  to  be  spared  from 
a  second  attack  of  sea-sickness.  We  shall 
double  the  Cape  in  about  six  weeks,  if  we  have 
a  prosperous  voyage ;  but  before  that  time  you 
will  have  received  our  letters.  The  ship  in 
which  they  are  sent  is  the  Odessa,  Captain  Dim- 
ming, bound  to  New-York.  Captain  D.  break- 
fasted with  us,  and  you  cannot  imagine  our 
feelings  towards  any  one  who  is  going  to  our 
native  land.  I  do  not  wish  to  return  with  him  ; 
but  I  have  looked  with  swimming  eyes  at  his 
beautiful  vessel  lying  near  our  own.  But  they 
are  calling  for  my  letters;  the  custom-house 
officers  are  coming  on  board  to  give  us  our 
clearance  ;  and  in  a  few  short  hours  we  shall 
again  become  wanderers  on  the  pathless  ocean." 


112  MEMOIR  OF 


CHAPTER   Y. 

LEAVES    MADEIRA EXTRACTS   FROM   HER  JOURNAL 

SICKNESS VOYAGE  TO  CALCUTTA. 

This  short  visit  to  the  beautiful  Island  of 
Madeira,  appears  to  have  afforded  Mrs.  Morri- 
son much  pkasure.  For  weeks  she  had  been 
confined  to  the  cabin,  and  most  of  the  time  to 
•her  couch,  by  a  distressing  sickness,  which  not 
only  enfeebled  her  body  but  depressed  her 
spirits.  It  was  delightful,  therefore,  to  meet 
with  any  thing  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a 
long  and  tedious  voyage.  The  effect  of  a 
change  from  the  ship  to  the  shore  was  at  once 
visible.  Every  thing  that  she  saw,  or  heard,  or 
felt,  seemed  to  impart  pleasure  to  her  mind,  and 
fresh  vigor  to  her  languid  system.  The  air 
was  pure  and  balmy,  and  all  the  scenes  and 
scenery  possessed  the  excitement  of  novelty. 
Th€  terraced  and  vine-covered  hills ;  the  rich 
luxuriance  of  tropical  vegetation;  the  variety 
and  fragrance  of  the  shrubs  and  flowers,  were 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  1 13 

all  new  and  striking  objects  of  interest.  "  The 
general  aspect  of  the  mountains,  as  seen  from 
the  sea,"  says  Mr.  M.,  "  is  truly  sublime. 
The  shore  is  everywhere  bold  or  precipitous, 
and  the  land  rises  from  the  water's  edge  to 
lofty  peaks,  suddenly  broken  by  deep  and 
frightful  ravines.  But  what  adds  greatly  to 
the  sublimity  of  the  scene  is  the  cloudy  state  of 
the  atmosphere,  which  generally  prevails  far  up 
the  mountains,  while  the  inhabitants  below 
enjoy  clear  weather  and  a  beautiful  sunshine. 
The  mountains,  from  their  height,  appear  to 
attract  and  detain  every  passing  cloud,  as  if 
they  needed,  like  land  birds,  some  resting  place 
from  their  weary  flight.  Sometimes  the  moun- 
tain tops  appear  jutting  out  in  clear  sunshine 
above  their  gloomy  visitors ;  sometimes  they 
are  entirely  enveloped  in  the  same  mists  which 
shade  the  parts  below ;  and  sometimes  these 
watery  travellers  appear  too  heavily  laden  to 
ascend  entirely  to  the  summit ;  so  that  while  they 
rear  their  heads  with  sufficient  density  to  obscure 
the  peaks,  they  rest  their  feet  upon  the  plain 
beneath,  and  the  whole  scene  is  beautifully  va- 


114  MEMOIR  OF 

negated,  with  fragments  of  rainbow  here  and 
there  interspersed,  and  continually  shifting  their 
position  to  suit  the  varying  motions  of  the  clouds, 
and  sometimes  descending  to  the  water's  edge, 
and  playing  like  a  lambent  flame  upon  the  sur- 
face of  the  ocean." 

But  though  she  was  delighted  with  every 
thing  beautiful  around  her,  yet  she  wished  not 
to  linger  there :  she  was  impatient  to  reach 
"her  home  in  India, — that  land  of  darkness 
and  spiritual  death."  It  was  with  gladness 
rather  than  regret,  therefore,  that  on  the  5th 
of  December  she  bid  adieu  to  Madeira,  as  the 
Edward  spread  her  canvass  to  the  breeze, 

"  To  sail  o'er  silent  seas  again." 

During  the  remainder  of  their  voyage  Mrs. 
M.  kept  "  a  journal,  for  the  perusal  of  her 
parents,  brothers  and  sisters,"  which  no  doubt 
contains  a  faithful  record  of  her  views  and 
feelings,  as  well  as  the  incidents  occurring 
from  day  to  day.  From  this  journal  we  shall 
now  introduce  such  extracts  as  may  be  adapted 
to  interest  the  general  reader. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MOKKISOX.  115 

Shi]p  Edward,  near  the  Equator,  / 
Jan.  1,  1838.  \ 
As  nothinjT  of  much  interest  has  occurred 
since  we  left  the  harbor  of  Madeira,  I  have 
postponed  the  commencement  of  my  journal 
until  the  present  time.  Thus  far  the  winds 
have  borne  us  very  swiftly  on  our  voyage,  and 
w^e  are  within  a  few  hours  sail  of  the  line. 
The  weather  in  this  region  is  so  excessively  hot, 
that  we  have  all  been  studying  this  morning 
how  we  can  make  ourselves  most  comfortable. 
Our  state-rooms  we  find  it  almost  impossible  to 
occupy.  We  are  expecting,  however,  to  enjoy 
cooler  weather  in  a  few  days.  My  thoughts 
to-day  have  incessantly  wandered  to  the  land  of 
ray  birth ;  and  dwelt  with  mournful  pleasure 
upon  precious  seasons  that  I  am  to  enjoy  no 
more.  Obtained  sweet  relief,  by  pouring  my 
sorrows  into  the  bosom  of  that  Saviour  who  was 
a  man  of  sorrow^s  and  acquainted  with  grief. 
"  Nature  will  feel :"  and  although  I  can  and  do 
rejoice  in  prospect  of  the  glorious  work  to 
which  I  have  been  called,  I  sometimes  feel  sad 
to  think  that  "  I  shall  see  your  faces  no  more." 


116  MEMOIR  or 

But  still  it  is  my  privilege  to  "  press  toward  the 
mark,  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus."  It  is  a  cause  of  much  grief 
to  me,  that  I  have  done  so  little  for  Him  who 
laid  down  his  life  for  my  redemption.  I  desire 
to  spend  my  few  remaining  day  entirely  in  his 
service.  I  know  not  what  changes  the  present 
year  may  effect ;  perhaps  the  news  may  reach 
me  of  the  death  of  some  beloved  friend  or  rela- 
tive ;  of  some  endearing  tie  severed,  that  will 
make  my  heart  bleed  at  the  recollection.  But 
still  let  us  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  a  reunion  in 
that  land,  where  there  is  no  sorrow,  or  sickness, 
or  pain ;  but  where  all  tears  shall  be  wiped 
away. 

January  2d.  Crossed  the  equator  yesterday, 
and  shall,  if  prospered,  reach  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  in  a  few  days.  In  the  evening,  we  ob- 
served the  monthly  concert  for  prayer.  Al- 
though we  cannot  meet  in  the  sanctuary  of  the 
living  God,  we  enjoy  some  soul-reviving  sea- 
sons. We  can  meet  in  spirit  with  our  dear 
absent  friends,  and  unitedly  plead  for  the  bless- 
ing of  God  upon  his  cause  in  heathen  lands ', 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  117 

and  we  have  cherished  the  delightful  thought, 
that  your  ardent  prayers  are  ascending  in  behalf 
of  the  wanderers  on  the  mighty  ocean. 

January  Stli.  Yesterday,  Brother  Wilson 
preacheil  on  deck.  I  never  enjoyed  public 
worship  more  when  at  home.  The  officers  and 
sailors  were  all  very  attentive ;  and  although 
we  perceive  nothing  special,  yet  they  manifest 
a  great  deal  of  interest ;  and  a  number  of  them 
attend  evening  prayers  in  the  cabin.  This  eve- 
ning we  observed,  with  our  dear  American 
friends,  the  Sabbath  school  concert. 

January  ISth.  We  are  now  in  latitude  31°. 
The  weather  this  morning  is  quite  cold,  and  I 
find  my  warmest  clothing  quite  comfortable. 
Attended  our  female  prayer  meeting  in  sister 
C.'s  room,  and  found  the  season  very  re- 
freshing. As  a  company  of  dear  sisters,  we 
love  to  meet  and  plead  for  the  cause  of  Zion 
throughout  the  world.  We  love  to  bear  on  our 
hearts  to  the  mercy -seat  the  loved  ones  we  have 
left,  who  are  as  dear  to  us  as  ever.  And  I  have 
sometimes  fancied,  that  at  the  same  hour,  per- 
haps, a  beloved  mother  or  father,  brother  or 
11 


118  MKMOIR  OF 

sister,  were  sending  up  their  earnest  supplica- 
tions in  behalf  of  the  absent  ones. 

From  the  last  date  to  the  23d  of  January, 
there  is  a  blank  in  her  journal,  occasioned  by 
another  attack  of  sickness  still  more  severe 
than  those  that  she  had  been  called  to  endure. 
It  is  by  no  means  a  blank,  however,  in  her  re- 
ligious history.  Never  before  did  her  piety  as- 
sume such  a  heavenly  lustre  ;  it  was  indeed  like 
"  gold  tried  in  the  fire."  Never  before  had  she 
been  able  to  bear  such  clear  and  decided  tes- 
timony to  the  faithfulness  of  God  ;  and  to  the 
unspeakable  value  of  our  holy  religion.  Such 
testimony,  given  in  such  circumstances,  ought 
not  to  be  lost :  it  is  a  valuable  legacy  to  the 
church.  It  reveals  to  us  the  Son  of  God,  as  he 
accompanies  his  followers  through  the  glowing 
furnace  of  affliction;  and  it  pours  a  flood  of 
glory  on  their  passage  to  the  tomb.  Her  hus- 
band has  furnished  us  with  a  narrative  of  her 
religious  exercises  during  this  trying  period,  in 
a  letter  to  her  parents,  which  we  shall  intro- 
duce almost  entire. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  119 

Shijf  Edward,  Feb.  3d,  1838. 

My  ever  dear  Parents  : 

Since  we  left  the  Island  of  Madeira,  we  have 
had  to  sing  of  judgment  and  mercy.  Our 
voyage  thus  far  has,  as  I  suppose,  been  remark- 
ably smooth  for  an  India  voyage.  We  have 
had  but  little  of  what  a  sailor  would  call  very 
rough  weather ;  none  when  we  could  not  lie 
down  as  quietly  to  sleep  as  if  W'e  had  been 
under  the  shelter  of  our  paternal  roof.  Indeed, 
I  may  say,  we  have  been  under  such  a  shelter. 
The  Lord  our  God  has  been  our  shield  and  ex- 
ceeding great  reward  ;  so  that  when  the  light- 
ning has  flashed  around  us,  and  the  thunders 
rolled,  and  the  winds  and  waves  appeared  to 
vie  with  each  other,  which  should  rage  most 
furiously,  and  most  threaten  us  with  destruction, 
we  have  been  enabled  to  look  abroad  upon  the 
awful  grandeur  of  the  scene,  and  say,  with  the 
most  perfect  composure,  "  My  Father  rules 
them  all."  The  Lord  has  performed  unto  us 
his  own  most  precious  promises :  he  has  kept 
our  minds  in  perfect  peace,  sweetly  stayed  on 


120  MEMOIR    OF 

his  own  unchanging  faithfulness.  And  I  can- 
not express  how  much  we  are  indebted  to  the 
goodness  of  God,  for  sending  in  our  company 
a  pious  physician. 

But  kindly  as  we  have  been  provided  for  in 
this  respect,  our  beloved  Anna  has,  to  all  ap- 
pearance, been  brought  down  to  the  very  bor- 
ders of  the  grave.  In  some  subsequent  letter 
I  will  give  you  the  particulars  of  her  complaint 
and  her  medical  treatment.  At  present  I  shall 
speak  more  particularly  of  the  goodness  of 
God,  in  sustaining  her  under  the  most  intense 
sufferings,  causing  her  to  triumph  over  the 
fear  of  death,  and  restoring  her  again  to  health 
and  a  good  degree  of  strength.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  greater  accuracy,  I  shall  extract  from 
a  journal  which  I  kept  during  her  sickness. 

She  appeared  pretty  well,  until  Sabbath, 
January  14th,  when  she  experienced  a  return 
of  her  headache.  It  commenced  in  the  morn- 
ing and  continued  gradually  to  increase.  Be- 
fore the  hour  of  public  worship — it  being  my 
turn  to  officiate — I  discovered  that  she  was 
worse,  and  proposed  remaining  with  her.     But 


MRS.   ANNA  MARIA  ?  OllKlSON.  121 

she  replied,  it  would  not  be  right  to  leave  those 
perishing  souls  without  the  bread  of  life,  for 
the  sake  of  taking  care  of  her  body,  and  she 
thought  I  might  safely  leave  her,  long  enough 
to  discharge  my  public  duties.  On  returning 
to  her  bedside  I  found  her  suffering  most  in- 
tensely, and  hardly  able  to  speak  ;  and  soon 
after  she  was  seized  with  convulsions.  At  in- 
tervals during  the  day  she  was  entirely  bereft 
of  her  reason.  And  while  suffering  under  her 
more  severe  paroxysms  of  pain,  and  mental 
aberration  of  mind,  she  talked  incoherently  of 
home,  and  begged  me  to  send  into  the  office 
for  her  father.  I  reminded  her  that  she  was  on 
board  of  a  ship,  and  on  her  way  to  the  heathen, 
to  teach  them  about  Christ.  This  immediately 
calmed  her  mind,  and  on  one  occasion  she  said, 
"Oyes!  1  forgot  that  precious  Saviour!"  I 
inquired,  "  Are  you  not  sorry  now,  since  you 
have  to  suffer  so  much,  far  from  home,  that 
you  have  forsaken  all  for  Christ  ?"  She  ap- 
peared to  feel  hurt  at  the  intimation,  and  re- 
plied with  peculiar  emphasis  :  "  0,  no  !  I  love 
him ;  I  could  lay  down  a  thousand  lives  in  his 
11* 


122  MEMOIR  OF 

cause,  if  I  had  them."  "  Is  the  Saviour  pre- 
cious to  you  now?'^  said  I.  "  0  yes,"  she  re- 
plied, "  the  chief  among  ten  thousand,  and  the 
one  altogether  lovely."  This  was  not  a  con- 
nected conversation,  but  was  held  during  inter- 
vals of  partial  relief  from  excruciating  pain. 
She  several  times  said  to  me,  "  Do  not  let  me 
complain,  and  dishonor  my  precious  Saviour." 
I  several  times  overheard  her  applying  to  the 
great  Physician  for  relief;  but  could  not  always 
understand  what  she  said.  Such  ejaculations 
as  these  were  sometimes  audible  to  all  around 
her  bed  :  "  Precious  Saviour,  take  me  to  thy- 
self,— relieve  me  from  this  suffering, — never- 
theless not  ray  will,  but  thine  be  done, — it  is  all 
right, — make  me  patient,  submissive,"  &c. 
After  she  was  completely  restored  to  her  right 
mind,  she  inquired  with  much  solicitude, 
whether  she  had  not  dishonored  her  Saviour  by 
impatience,  or  unkindness  to  anyone  around  her; 
or  by  saying  any  thing  improper.  On  being 
told  that  she  had  not,  but  had  borne  delightful 
testimony  to  the  preciousness  of  Christ,  she 
replied,  "  0  no ;  it  cannot  be  ;  I  am  so  sinful." 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  123 

January  15th.  Another  day  of  worldly  toil 
and  trouble ;  but  of  spiritual  joys.  A  little 
after  noon,  her  headache  returning,  we  resorted 
to  precautionary  measures,  to  prevent,  if  pos- 
sible, a  return  of  those  dreadful  convulsions 
with  which  she  was  yesterday  afflicted.  Not- 
withstanding all  we  could  do,  they  came  on 
while  we  were  thus  engaged ;  and  the  only 
effect  of  our  efforts  was  to  check  their  violence 
and  shorten  their  duration.  This  we  regarded 
as  a  great  blessing ;  for,  to  all  human  appear- 
ance, she  could  not  have  survived  a  return  of 
them  in  all  their  violence.  Her  great  concern 
during  the  whole  day  appeared  to  be,  not  what 
she  had  suffered,  or  might  yet  suffer,  but 
whether  she  had  said  or  done  any  thing  to  dis- 
honor Him,  who  was  so  precious  to  her.  And 
never  did  I  witness  such  a  complete  triumph 
over  the  fear  of  death.  Knowing  that  she  had 
always  suffered  much  from  this  cause,  I  asked 
her,  if  death  now  appeared  terrible  to  her, 
when  it  seemed  to  be  so  very  near  ?  "  Not  at 
all,"  she  replied,  "it  has  no  terrors  for  me. 
Christ  has  passed  through  the  dark  valley,  and 


124  MEMOIR    OF 

dissipated  all  its  gloom."  During  the  day  she 
frequently  repeated  parts  of  hymns,  and  pas- 
sages of  Scripture,  which  appeared  peculiarly 
precious  to  her.  On  the  following  stanza  she 
dwelt  with  great  satisfaction  and  delight: 

'♦  My  faith  would  lay  her  hand 
On  that  dear  head  of  thine; 
While  like  a  penitent  I  stand, 
And  there  confess  my  sin." 

At  another  time,  I  heard  her  endeavoring  to 
collect  from  the  scattered  fragments  in  her 
memory,  that  inimitably  beautiful  passage  near 
the  close  of  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  First  Co- 
rinthians,— "  This  corruptible  must  put  on  in- 
corruption."  I  then  repeated  the  whole  of  the 
passage  to  the  close  of  the  56th  verse ;  when 
she  added  with  great  emphasis,  "  But  thanks 
be  to  God,  which  giveth  us, — me,  me  the  chief 
of  sinners, — the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  On  being  asked,  which  she  would 
choose,  to  live,  or  to  die;  she  hesitated,  and 
seemed  to  be  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a 
desire  '*  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which  is 
far  better."    She  mentioned  but  one  reason  why 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  1^5 

she  would  like  to  live, — to  tell  the  perishing 
heathen  of  a  glorious  Redeemer ;  but  then  she 
said,  she  had  no  will  but  his.  She  was  asked, 
if  she  could  give  me  up,  and  leave  me  alone  in 
this  dreary  world  ?  "0  yes,"  she  replied,  **  I 
can  trust  him  with  the  Saviour :  and  I  know  it 
will  be  but  a  short  time  before  he  w^ill  follow 
me." 

With  such  and  many  other  and  similar  evi- 
dences of  her  ripeness  for  glory,  and  her  desire 
to  be  with  Christ,  my  selfishness  was  so  sub- 
dued, that,  while  I  wept  at  the  thought  of  such 
a  bereavement,  I  could  not  say  to  her  "  stay 
with  me."  I  could  only  pray,  Lord,  if  con- 
sistent with  thy  righteous  will,  lend  her  to  me, 
to  thy  church,  and  to  a  ruined  world,  a  little 
longer. 

January  16fh.  The  light  of  this  morning 
dawned  upon  me  in  all  its  beauty ;  but  its  love- 
liness only  served,  by  the  depth  of  the  contrast 
with  what  was  passing  around  and  within  me, 
to  render  more  awful  the  gloom  of  that  cloud 
which  overhung  my  path.  Brother  W.  told 
me,  that  the  situation  of  Mrs.  M.  was,  as  I 


126  MEMOIR  OF 

feared,  very  critical.  The  dreadful  thought, 
though  not  a  stranger  to  me,  now  flashed  upon 
my  mind  with  a  force  and  conviction  never  be- 
fore experienced,  that  in  a  few  hours,  or  at 
most  a  few  days,  death  w^ould,  in  all  proba- 
bility, snatch  from  my  embrace  my  dearest 
earthly  friend,  and  leave  me  a  solitary  wan- 
derer in  a  gloomy  wilderness.  My  dear  wife, 
from  the  commencement  of  her  sickness,  said 
she  expected  soon  to  leave  me :  and  charged 
me  frequently  to  let  her  know  when  we  thought 
her  dying,  as  she  wished  to  leave  some  mes- 
sages. She  received  the  intelligence  of  her 
probable  dissolution  as  calmly,  and  I  doubt  not 
much  more  calmly,  than  if  it  had  been  a  sum- 
mons to  return  to  the  home  of  her  childhood. 
She  said  it  was  good  news  :  she  would  rather 
depart  and  be  with  Christ,  and  repeated  part  of 
the  hymn,  "  If  Jesus  Christ  be  precious  here," 
&c.  "  Tell  my  friends,"  said  she,  "  I  am  not 
sorry.  I  rejoice  that  I  have  left  all  to  suffer 
for  Christ.  My  dying  testimony  is,  that '  Christ 
is  all  in  all.'"  On  recovering  from  one  of  her 
turns  of  fainting,  which  now  became  frequent, 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MOKUISON.  127 

owing  to  her  great  weakness,  she  exclaimed, 
'•'  Why  did  you  bring  me  back  1  I  was  almost 
home."  And  several  times  she  said,  that  she 
thought  herself  just  at  the  gate  of  heaven.  She 
spoke  with  great  emphasis  and  satisfaction  of 
the  peace  which  Christ  left  as  a  legacy  to  his 
disciples,  and  said,  "  I  know  it  is  so  :  ray  peace 
flows  as  a  river  ;  a  peace,  I  am  sure,  the  world 
cannot  give.  You  know,"  she  continued, "  that 
death  has  always  been  such  a  terror  to  me;  but 
now  it  has  no  terrors  for  me  :  Christ  has  en- 
dured it,  and  despoiled  it  of  them  all."  I  can- 
not repeat  all  that  she  said  ;  but  this  is  a  faith- 
ful specimen  of  the  tenor  of  her  conversation, 
and  of  the  exercises  of  her  mind. 

But  the  remedies  employed  operated  well, 
and,  by  the  blossing  of  God,  were  effectual  in 
subduino:  her  disease.  Althouf^h  it  left  her  in 
such  a  debilitated  state,  that  great  care  was 
necessary  to  prevent  a  relapse,  yet  in  a  few 
days  we  were  again  hoping  for  her  entire  re- 
covery. I  have  been  thus  particular  in  giving 
you  an  account  of  every  thing  as  far  as  I  could, 
because  I  felt  assured  that  you  would  read  it 


128  MEMOIR  or 

with  the  deepest  interest.  Join  with  us,  then, 
in  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  God  for  his  great 
goodness  to  us  in  all  his  dealings  with  us.  And 
pray  continually,  that  we  may  yet  be  made 
ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  the  heathen  to 
minister  to  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salva- 
tion. 

We  now  resume  her  journal. 

January  2M.  I  have  been  prevented  from 
writing  in  my  journal  a  number  of  days  past, 
on  account  of  a  serious  attack  of  sickness, 
which  commenced  on  the  day  which  closed  the 
twenty-fourth  year  of  my  probationary  exist- 
ence. As  my  dear  husband  will  give  you  a 
particular  account  of  the  extreme  sufferings 
through  which  I  was  called  to  pass,  I  will  not 
attempt  a  description.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  I 
look  upon  myself  with  w^onder  and  astonish- 
ment as  being  able  so  soon  to  sit  bolstered  in 
my  rocking-chair  long  enough  to  write  afew 
lines  in  my  journal.  Truly,  death  stared  me  in 
the  face ,   and  I  was  very  near  entering  the 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  129 

gates  of  the  kingdom,  where,  as  I  humbly  trust, 
1  should  have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  happiness 
forever ;  and  where  I  still  hope  to  meet  all  my 
dear  friends,  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ. 
But  I  am  yet  spared  ;  and  I  feel  that  it  becomes 
me  to  "  bless  and  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord," 
that  he  has  restored  me  thus  far,  when  I  was 
apparently  so  near  eternity.  Its  glories  dawned 
upon  my  sight ;  and  I  desired  rather  to  depart 
and  be  with  Christ,  if  it  was  God's  will  that  I 
should  not  enter  on  my  labors, — for  I  knew  it 
would  be  far  better.  Yes,  my  dear  parents,  the 
Lord  then  afforded  me  a  delightful  foretaste  of 
that  w^orld  of  blessedness  and  glory,  which  I 
cannot  describe.  His  presence,  during  the  most 
trying  hour,  filled  ray  little  room  wMth  light  and 
joy.  And  although  he  had  cast  my  lot  far  from 
those  who  would  have  watched  over  me  with 
yearning  tenderness  in  that  season  of  anguish, 
still  his  presence  w^as  vouchsafed  to  me,  and  his 
peace  flowed  into  my  soul  like  a  river.  0 !  I 
felt  with  the  poet,  that 

"Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed 
Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are." 

12 


130  MEMOIR    OF 

He  has  seen  fit,  however,  to  bless  the  means 
used  for  ray  recovery ;  and  is  again  restoring 
my  strength,  which  I  trust  will  hereafter  be 
spent  in  his  service. 

January  26th.  Have  been  on  deck  to-day 
for  the  first  time  in  a  fortnight,  and  enjoyed  it 
greatly.  The  air  was  so  sweet  and  refreshing, 
that  I  almost  fancied  I  was  inhaling  a  breeze 
from  land.  We  sometimes  think  it  would  be  a 
gratification  to  see  the  hills  and  vales  of  our 
dear  native  land, — rendered  now  still  dearer  by 
the  immense  distance  which  separates  us  from 
it ;  but  my  mind  is  kept  in  perfect  peace,  being 
stayed  on  the  Lord.  If  we  are  prospered,  w-e 
shall  reach  India  in  sixty  days  after  leaving  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  visiting  Madeira  w^e 
were  obliged  to  deviate  from  the  usual  course, 
and  our  voyage  in  consequence  of  it  will  be 
considerably  lengthened. 

January  21th.  Although  storms  are  raging 
without,  and  the  vessel  is  tossed  by  waves 
that  are  almost  mountain  high,  yet  all  is  peace 
within ;  and  we  feel  the  sweet  assurance  that 
Christ  has  but  to  speak  the  word,  and  all  will 


MRS.   ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  131 

be  calm.  Spent  an  hour  this  afternoon  in 
teaching  our  Bengalee  servant  to  read  Enghsh. 
He  seems  much  interested,  and  is  a  smart,  intel- 
ligent boy.  Mr.  M.  told  him,  that  if  he  would 
learn  to  read  before  we  reached  Calcutta,  he 
would  give  him  a  Bible.  He  is  a  Mohammedan, 
and  I  cannot  describe  the  pleasure  I  felt  in 
being  permitted  to  explain  to  him  something  of 
the  nature  of  the  Christian  religion.  I  com- 
menced by  hearing  him  spell  words  in  the  book 
that  I  was  reading.  I  pointed  to  the  word 
"  Christ,"  and,  after  spelling  it,  asked  him  if  he 
knew  what  it  meant.  He  replied,  "  God."  I 
then  explained  how,  and  for  whom  he  died. 
He  exclaimed,  "  Not  for  Hindoo  sinners  ?"  I 
said,  certainly,  for  sinners  everywhere.  "  But," 
he  replied,  "  I  shall  lose  caste  if  I  take  the 
Americans'  God."  I  urged  him  '^  not  to  fear 
them  which  kill  the  body,  and  after  that  have  no 
more  that  they  can  do  ;  but  rather  to  fear  him 
who  can  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell." 

January  2Sth.  A  very  cold  day  ;  had  preach- 
ing in  the  after-cabin,  and  Mr.  M.  officiated. 
But  six  of  the  seamen  were  present.     In  the 


132  MEMOIR  OF 

afternoon,  the  mission  family  met  as  a  Bible 
class;  and  all  became  so  much  interested  in 
the  subject  as  to  forget  that  they  were  shiver- 
ing with  cold.  I  have  also  been  greatly  de- 
lighted in  reading  the  Memoirs  of  Dr.  Carey, 
who  spent  his  days  in  the  benighted  land  to 
which  we  are  bound.  0  that  I  may,  when  my 
work  is  done,  be  prepared  to  follow  him  to  a 
world  of  eternal  blessedness !  I  enjoy  singing 
very  much ;  and  often  wish  for  a  dear  brother 
or  sister  from  home  to  join  me.  To-day  I  have 
been  singing  "  My  faith  looks  up  to  thee,"  and 
"  Rise  my  soul  and  stretch  thy  wings,"  &c. 

January  30th.  I  have  never  witnessed  so 
heavy  a  sea,  as  we  had  this  morning.  Found  it 
almost  impossible  to  write,  or  to  keep  in  any  one 
position.  It  is  much  more  calm  this  evening, 
and  we  have  the  prospect  of  fine  weather.  To 
our  no  small  satisfaction  we  have  passed  the 
meridian  of  the  "  Cape,"  and  are  now  ten  thou- 
sand miles  from  home.  Six  thousand  more  will 
land  us  in  Calcutta.  There  we  shall  be  "  strang- 
ers in  a  strange  land ;"  the  voices  of  friends 
and  kindred  will  not  greet  our  ears ;  and  we 


MRS.  ANXA  MARIA  MORRISON.  133 

shall  be  far  from  a  land  of  Sabbaths  and  sanctu- 
aries. But  '*  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  although 
I  have  cast  them  far  off  among  the  heathen  ; 
and  althoutrh  I  have  scattered  them  amongj  the 
countries  ;  yet  will  I  be  to  them  as  a  little  sanc- 
tuary in  the  countries  where  they  shall  come." 
Ezek.  11:  16.  Our  journey  like  that  of  the 
children  of  Israel  is  a  long  and  toilsome  one ', 
yet  the  promise  given  in  connection  with  our 
commission  is  cheering,  "  Lo,  1  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 

"  Though  dark  be  my  way, 

Since  he  is  my  guide, 
'Tis  mine  to  obey, 

'Tis  his  to  provide; 
His  way  was  much  rougher. 

And  darker  than  mine  ; 
Did  Jesus  thus  suffer, 

And  shall  I  repine?" 

January  ^\st.  One  of  the  most  lovely  days 
that  we  have  had.  I  have  been  able  to  exer- 
cise on  deck  :  the  sea  is  calm  and  tranquil,  and 
the  air  bracing  to  the  nerves,  and  exhilarating 
to  the  spirits.  Spent  an  hour  with  my  Bengalee 
pupil  this  afternoon.  He  says,  if  he  can  only  get 
to  Calcutta,  and  bathe  in  the  sacred  water,  he 
12* 


134  MEMOIR  OP 

shall  not  want  a  Bible.  I  endeavored,  but  in 
vain,  to  convince  him,  that  all  the  water  in  the 
Ganges  could  not  cleanse  him  from  sin.  When 
will  "  the  day  dawn  and  the  day-star  arise,"  and 
shine  upon  poor  benighted  India  !  This  evening 
we  held  our  "  Social  Conference."  The  question 
for  discussion  was,  "  The  evidences  of  an  inter- 
est in  Christ,  and  the  best  method  of  promoting 
true  Christian  friendship."  The  brethren  all 
take  part  in  the  exercises ;  and  we  have  found 
them  very  delightful  and  profitable  meetings. 
Our  company,  we  think,  is  a  very  agreeable 
and  pleasant  one.  This  adds  much  to  our  com- 
fort and  happiness.  Truly  we  "have  every 
thing  and  abound."  "  0  for  a  heart  to  serve  my 
Saviour  faithfully,  and  to  be  wholly  resigned  to 
his  will !" 

February  3d.  I  could  not  prevent  my  thoughts 
to-day,  from  wandering  across  the  trackless 
ocean,  to  my  dear  given  up  home.  Although 
I  have  the  kindest  of  friends,  and  the  most  un- 
wearied attention  when  sick ;  still  the  counsel 
of  dear  parents,  and  the  tender  concern  of  af- 
fectionate sisters  would  be  most  grateful  to  me. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.'  135 

The  sisters  and  brothers  of  the  mission,  I  can 
assure  you,  are  dear  to  my  heart.  The  Chris- 
tian and  social  intercourse  which  I  am  permit- 
ted to  enjoy  with  them,  I  cannot  too  highly  ap- 
preciate ;  but  it  is  a  different  tie  which  binds 
me  to  those  dear  brothers  and  sisters  whom  I 
have  left,  in  all  probability,  to  gaze  upon  no 
more  until  that  day  when  our  disembodied 
spirits  shall  meet  around  the  throne,  and  join  in 
singing  "Alleluia,  for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent 
reigneth."  And  is  there  one  of  the  precious 
number  whom  I  shall  not  meet  there  ?  Is  there 
one,  who  shall  not  come  forth,  and  with  palms 
in  his  hands,  exclaim  "  victory,  victory ;" — and 
with  dear  parents  unite  in  ascribing  glory  and 
honor  to  him  who  hath  redeemed  them  by  his 
blood  ?  That  will  be  a  glorious  hour,  when 
our  beloved  circle  shall  be  all  complete  in  hea- 
ven. I  love  now  more  than  ever  to  think  of 
that  time.  It  is  the  only  meeting  with  you,  to 
which  I  desire  to  look  forward. 

February  4fh.  This  morning  dawned  upon  us 
with  all  the  loveliness  of  a  May  morning  in 
America.     Although  we  can  see  nothing  but 


136  MEMOIR  OF 

"  the  blue  above,  and  the  blue  around,'' — tend- 
ing to  impress  us  with  a  sense  of  our  helpless- 
ness and  dependence  on  Him,  who  made  the  sea 
and  the  dry  land, — still  the  rest  of  the  holy 
Sabbath  is  ours.  We  cannot,  with  you,  mingle 
w4th  the  great  congregation ;  we  cannot  go 
with  the  multitude  who  keep  holy-day,  to  the 
courts  of  the  Lord's  house  ;  but  we  can  hail  the 
precious  Sabbath,  as  a  delightful  antepast  of  the 
rest  of  heaven,  when  the  cares  of  this  toilsome 
life  is  over.  The  prospect  of  encountering  a 
severe  gale  of  wind  from  the  south,  prevented 
our  having  service  on  deck,  as  we  anticipated 
in  the  morning.  Brother  Wilson  lectured  how- 
ever in  the  after-cabin.  Towards  evening  the 
sea  ran  very  high,  without  much  wind ;  and  it 
is  supposed  to  be  occasioned  by  a  very  heavy 
gale  to  the  north.  I  went  on  deck  to  see  the 
height  of  the  waves  ;  and  it  seemed  to  me  that 
we  must  be  dashed  in  pieces  by  their  violence 
and  fury.  I  could  not  but  exclaim,  "  the  Lord 
reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice." 

February  5th.  The  gale  still  continues  with 
increased  violence.    The  captain  said  that  this 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  137 

was  one  of  the  most  awful  mornings  that  he 
had  ever  witnessed.  Every  thing  movable  was 
dashed  around  the  cabin  ;  and  none  of  us  dared 
mowe  for  fear  of  getting  our  limbs  broken.  In 
the  evening  we  met  to  observe  the  monthly 
concert.  We  trust  that  many  of  the  friends  of 
Zion  are  even  now  following  us  with  their 
prayers,  as  they  have  met  to  plead  for  the  Sa- 
viour's cause  in  heathen  lands. 

February  6th.  We  have  been  moving  on  very 
prosperously  to-day;  for  the  last  twelve  hours  we 
have  made  two  degrees.  But  it  only  widens 
the  distance  between  us.  I  trust,  however, 
that  the  separation  has  been  sanctified  to  me. 
What  is  there  worth  living  for,  but  to  serve 
Christ?  There  is  nothing  satisfying  on  earth  ; 
all  is  vanity.  But  when  I  have  toiled  and  suf- 
fered a  little  while  in  his  service,  my  rest  will 
be  glorious. — Passed  a  part  of  the  afternoon 
very  pleasantly  in  hearing  my  heathen  pupil. 
I  find  that  he  advances  very  rapidly.  Every 
moment  of  spare  time  that  he  can  get,  he  is 
seen  with  his  book  in  his  hand.  He  asked  me 
to-day,  why  I  left  father  and  mother; — whether 


138  MEMOIR    OF 

I  can  get  more  money  in  India  than  in  America* 
I  endeavored  to  make  him  understand  the  mo- 
tives that  led  us  to  make  such  sacrifices;  but 
he  is  ignorant  and  incredulous.  He  de^res 
very  much  to  go  and  live  with  us  at  Allahabad. 
I  toid  him,  I  did  not  w^ant  anyone  to  live  with 
me,  who  worshipped  Hindoo  gods.  His  whole 
difficulty  seems  to  be  the  fear  of  losing  caste. 
O  that  his  darkened  mind  may  be  enUghtened 
by  the  Holy  Spirit ! 

February  7th.  Awoke  this  morning  and  found 
it  raining ;  and  to  our  great  joy  it  continued  to 
increase  until  the  afternoon.  This  we  consider 
as  one  of  God's  kind  providences  for  which  we 
have  abundant  reason  to  be  grateful.  For 
some  days  past  we  had  been  put  on  allowance 
for  water ;  and  we  had  great  fear  of  being  en- 
tirely out  before  reaching  our  destination.  We 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  six  hundred  gallons ; 
in  consequence  of  which  one  pint  a  day  only 
was  allowed  to  each  person.  Our  pity  was  ex- 
cited for  the  poor  sailors,  Avho,  being  obliged  to 
live  on  salt  food,  were  really  suffering  for  the 
want  of  water.     Every  vessel  was  therefore 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  139 

put  in  requisition ;  and  all  who  could  bear  the 
exposure  were  busily  engaged.  And  you  would 
have  been  amused  to  see  with  what  eagerness 
we  crowded  around  a  pitcher-full  of  fresh  water 
that  was  sent  into  the  cabin  as  soon  as  it  was 
caught. 

Feb.  1 1th.  Find  that  there  is  nearly  nine  hours 
difference  in  our  time  from  yours.  Can  it  be 
that  I  am  so  far  from  my  happy  home  ?  I  can 
scarcely  realize  it,  even  when  1  cast  my  eyes 
on  the  boundless  w^aste  of  waters  around  me. 
But  still  I  am  more  than  happy.  If  it  were  in  my 
own  power  to  return  to  you  now  I  would  not  do 
it.  As  much  as  I  love  you  all,  and  ardently 
as  I  long  to  see  you,  I  would  not  come  back  to 
dwell  in  the  land  of  my  birth.  No,  I  have  been 
made,  I  trust,  a  trophy  of  redeeming  grace  and 
mercy ;  and  can  I  refuse  to  bear  His  name  to 
the  nations,  who  know  him  not,  because  I  love 
father  and  mother,  sister  and  brother  ?  Because 
my  affections  cluster  around  the  dear  delights 
of  home,  should  I  refuse  obedience  to  my  Sa- 
viour's call  ?  No,  I  can  still  erect  my  Ebene- 
zer,  and  rejoice  that  I  am  so  near  the  heathen. 


140  MEMOIR  OF 

His  presence  can  make  the  darkest  hour  bright, 
even  in  a  land  of  darkness ;  and  I  do  not  fear 
to  trust  him.  I  have  received  even  more  than 
a  himdred-fold. 

February  lAth.  We  are  now  in  the  Indian 
Ocean,  and  our  company  are  all  in  fine  health 
and  spirits.  We  begin  to  feel  fhat  we  are 
drawing  near  to  the  shores  of  India  ;  that  land 
of  spiritual  darkness,  desolation  and  death. 
While  we  must  rejoice  at  the  prospect  of  once 
more  beholding  land,  there  is  something  mel- 
ancholy in  the  thought  of  meeting  those  poor 
idolaters  for  whom  Christ  died,  and  seeing  them 
bow  and  worship  gods  of  wood  and  stone, 
which  their  own  hands  have  made.  The 
brethren  met  this  evening  to  read  their  in- 
structions, and  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments before  reaching  Calcutta.  We  hope  not 
to  be  detained  more  than  two  weeks  there. 

February  25th,  Sabbath.  Since  my  last  date 
the  Lord  has  again  laid  his  afflicting  hand  upon 
me  and  brought  me  through  another  season  of 
severe  suffering.  But  when  I  reflect  on  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  and  the  salutary 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  141 

influence  which,  I  trust,  these  chastisements 
have  had  on  my  heart,  every  rebellious  thought, 
and  every  murmuring  word  is  checked  ;  and  I 
am  enabled,  cheerfully,  to  submit  to  Him  who 
"  never  afflicts  willingly,  nor  grieves  the  chil- 
dren of  men."  How  gracious  is  our  covenant 
keeping  God  in  chastening  his  children  when 
it  is  for  their  profit.  I  hope  and  pray  that  the 
afflictions  with  which  I  have  been  visited  may 
prepare  me  for  more  extensive  usefulness  in 
the  vineyard  of  ray  blessed  Master ;  and  fit  me 
for  the  mansions  of  rest.  There  sorrow  and 
pain  shall  never  enter;  and  the  inhabitants 
shall  no  more  say,  "  I  am  sick."  I  know  the 
time  is  short ;  my  work  will  soon  be  done. 
What  matters  it  if  w^e  be  separated  for  a  sea- 
son ;  you,  my  dear  friends,  in  America,  and  I  in 
burning  India  ?  We  have  the  same  kind  Pro- 
tector ;  and  we  have  the  unspeakable  privilege 
of  meeting  in  spirit  at  the  same  mercy  seat. 
And  what  matters  it  if  a  few  fleeting  days  be 
spent  in  toil  and  sorrow,  since  we  can  look  for- 
ward to  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away  ? 
13 


142  MEMOIR  OF 

We  can  rejoice  in  tribulation,  knowing  that  it 
will  soon  be  over. 

''  Soon  will  the  painful  conflict  cease  ; 
Soon  will  the  raging-  storm  be  o'er  ; 
Soon  we  shall  reach  the  realm  of  peace, 
Where  suffering  shall  be  known  no  more." 

February  26th.  Friday  has  been  spent  by  the 
mission  family  in  fasting  and  prayer  to  God  for 
the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  officers 
and  crew  of  the  vessel.  Of  late  there  has  been 
much  indifference  to  religion  manifested  by 
them.  My  Bengalee  student  has  also  been  in- 
duced to  discontinue  his  visits  to  my  room.  I 
was  much  grieved  at  this,  as  he  manifested  an 
ardent  desire  to  learn  ;  and  was  making  very 
fair  progress.  He  came  to  my  room  one  day 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  told  me  he  could  not 
study  his  book  any  more.  I  inquired  the  rea- 
son :  he  said  there  was  some  one  on  board  who 
did  not  wish  him  to  read ;  and  he  could  not 
learn  any  more  until  he  reached  Calcutta.  This, 
I  suppose,  is  but  a  specimen  of  the  difficulties 
and  discouragements  w^ith  which  I  shall  meet 
in  laboring  among  the  degraded  Hindoos. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  143 

March  Zd.  Was  kept  awake  last  night  by 
the  storm.  The  flashes  of  lightning  occasion- 
ally meeting  my  eyes  from  the  sky-light  were 
very  vivid.  A  storm  at  sea  is  one  of  the  most 
terrific  sights  that  can  be  imagined.  It  far 
surpasses,  in  awful  grandeur,  any  that  we  see 
on  land.  It  baffles  all  attempts  at  description. 
The  foaming  mountain-waves ;  the  raging 
winds;  the  black  and  angry  sky;  and  the 
continual  glare  of  the  lightning,  are  fitted  to 
create  alarm  and  terror  in  any  mind  that  is  not 
stayed  on  God.  How  often  have  I  seen  fear 
depicted  on  the  countenances  of  our  wicked 
sailors,  in  seasons  of  danger.  And  well  they 
may  tremble,  for  they  have  no  refuge, — no 
covert  from  the  storm  of  divine  vengeance. 

March  Sth.  The  weather  is  excessively  warm; 
— the  warmest  days  of  our  summer,  it  seems 
to  rac,  would  be  cool  compared  with  it.  We 
have  been  becalmed  most  of  the  day, — the 
wind  scarcely  sufficient  to  ruffle  the  surface  of 
the  water.  Towards  evening,  however,  it 
freshened ;  and  we  are  now  sailing  quite  swift- 
ly.    We  are  not  far  from  the  Equator ;  and 


144  MEMOIR    OF 

shall  soon  be  favored  with  the  Monsoon,  which 
will  waft  us  speedily  to  our  desired  haven.  It 
will  be  delightful,  once  more  to  set  foot  on 
land,  and  to  witness  some  change  of  scene.  It 
is  long  since  we  have  been  favored  with  any 
thing,  even  the  sight  of  a  distant  sail,  to  vary 
the  prospect  of  sky  and  sea.  "  Bear  me  on, 
thou  restless  ocean."  Waft  me  speedily,  ye 
winds,  to  my  home  in  India. 

March  10th.  The  weather  is  still  almost  in- 
tolerably hot.  The  thermometer  stood  at  97° 
in  the  shade,  and  111°  in  the  sun.  The  boards 
inside  of  our  companion-way  were  hot  enough 
to  blister  the  hand.  The  sunsets  on  the  ocean, 
and  in  this  latitude,  are  most  gorgeous  and  splen- 
did. Our  moonlight  evenings  too,  are  delight- 
ful ;  and  we  always  leave  the  deck  with 
reluctance,  to  breathe  the  confined  air  of  the 
cabin  below. 

March  IM.  It  is  five  months  to-day  since  we 
came  on  board  the  Edward ;  and  you  are 
probably  thinking  of  us,  as  safely  landed  in 
Calcutta.  The  heat  is  still  excessive  ;  and  we 
are  parched  with  thirst.     We  seize  a  cup  of 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  145 

•  water  from  our  dirty  casks,  with  as  much  avid- 
ity as  you  would  a  glass  of  ice-water,  or  lem- 
onade. This  evenino^  however  we  were  favor- 
ed  with  a  most  delightful  breeze,  and  a  heavy 
dash  of  rain,  which  has  served  to  cool  the 
atmosphere ;  so  we  have  the  prospect  of  a 
comfortable  night's  sleep.  We  have  now  water 
sufficient  to  last  us  until  we  enter  the  mouth  of 
the  Hoogley.  Truly  it  becomes  us,  with  thanks- 
giving, to  record  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  to 
his  unworthy  servants.  He  has  been  our  good 
Shepherd  and  supplied  all  our  wants.  He  has 
watched  over  us  by  night,  and  in  the  dark  and 
cloudy  day.  In  the  midst  of  our  outward  trials 
he  has  given  us  inward  peace.  What  a  privi- 
lege to  have  such  a  Guide  and  Protector. 

"  Here  we  meet  with  heavy  crosses  ; 

Many  burdens  we  must  bear ; 
But  the  Lord  can  make  our  losses, 

Lighter  than  the  ambient  air." 

This  evening  attended  our  social  conference, 
and  found  it  a  profitable  and  refreshing  season. 

March  16th.  To-day  our  ship  has  been  a  scene 
of  confusion,  in  consequence  of  two  sharks 
making  their  appearance  astern.  I  had  a  good 
13^ 


146  MEMOIR    OF 

view  of  them  from  our  cabin  windows,  and  r 
they  presented  a  fine  appearance  while  in  the 
water.  The  captain  harpooned  one  of  them, 
and  the  other  w^as  caught  with  a  hook.  They 
are  the  most  tenacious  of  life  of  any  animal 
that  I  ever  saw ;  even  after  they  were  cut  open 
they  threw  themselves  about  with  a  force  and 
violence  that  seemed  to  defy  death. 

March  28th.  We  are  making  good  progress 
up  the  Bay.  This  morning,  a  Chinese  ship 
was  seen  distinctly  with  the  naked  eye.  A 
large  English  brig  also  passed  so  near  us,  last 
evening,  that  the  light  from  her  stern  windows 
was  easily  distinguished.  We  have  been  much 
encouraged  within  a  few  days,  by  the  more 
than  usual  seriousness  of  some  of  our  men. 
Mr.  M.  has  had  several  conversations  with  them 
at  different  times ;  and  some  of  them  seem  de- 
termined to  lead  different  lives.  At  our  evening 
worship,  all  attend  who  can  be  spared  from 
duty  ;  and  they  manifest  an  increasing  interest 
in  religion.  We  cannot  but  hope  that  the  good 
seed  sown,  will  yet  spring  up  ;  and  that  the 
many  earnest  and  fervent  prayers  which  have 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORUISON.  147 

been  put  up  for  them,  will  bring  down  a  rich 
and  lasting-  blessing  upon  their  souls. 

March  31st.  Mr.  M.  went  out  with  a  number 
of  the  crew  in  the  small  boat,  to  catch  some 
fish,  as  our  stock  of  fre^h  provisions  on  board 
is  nearly  exhausted.  They  soon  returned,  hav- 
ing taken  a  shark  about  four  feet  long,  and  a 
number  of  small  blackfish.  We  passed,  as  our 
captain  told  us,  the  first  of  the  week,  within 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  Madras.  We 
longed  very  much  to  make  the  missionaries 
there  a  call ;  but  the  winds  and  the  waves  soon 
wafted  us  by. 

JiprilAth.  Cheered  with  good  news  this  morn- 
ing ;  we  shall  probably  take  a  pilot  to-morrow. 
And  all  are  busy,  making  preparations  to  land. 
The  color  of  the  water  was  suddenly  changed, 
this  forenoon,  from  a  deep  indigo  blue  to  a 
light  green,  which  is  always  regarded  as  a 
certain  indication  that  land  is  near.  I  cannot 
express  to  you  the  raptures  of  joy  which  filled 
every  breast,  at  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  termi- 
nation of  our  voyage.  But  although  the  voyage 
has  been  long  and  tedious,  in  many  respects  it 


148  MEMOIR  OF 

has  been  pleasant  and  profitable.  The  social 
intercourse  which  we  have  had  with  each  oth- 
er ;  our  precious  little  meetings ;  and  the  privi- 
leges of  the  Sabbath,  have  contributed  greatly 
to  our  happiness;  and  we  sometimes  feel  sad, 
when  we  reflect  that  the  time  will  soon  come 
that  will  separate  us,  it  may  be  forever.  "With 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  vessel  our  next 
meeting  will,  in  all  probability,  be  at  the  judg- 
ment seat  of  Christ, 

The  severe  afflictions  which  I  have  endured, 
I  sometimes  think  was  the  very  preparation  I 
needed  to  qualify  me  for  usefulness  in  our  field 
of  labor.  I  only  regret  that  I  have  not  made 
a  better  improvement  of  the  lessons  which  God 
has  taught  me.  We  have  the  precious  assur- 
ance, "  that  these  light  afflictions,"  if  rightly 
improved,  "  will  work  out  for  us  a  far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  We 
have  not  left  our  "  sweet  homes,"  expecting  to 
be  exempted  from  trials  and  sufferings.  No ; 
our  life  is  a  warfare ;  dangers  and  difficulties 
attend  it  at  every  step ;  and  we  feel  the  need 
of  "  putting  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,"  that 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  149 

we  may  be  able  to  endure  hardness  as  good 
soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  "  fight  manfully 
the  good  fight  of  faith." 

Jipril  bth.  About  two  o'clock,  the  pilot-boat 
hove  in  sight :  and  we  soon  perceived  that  she 
was  rapidly  approaching.  Every  heart  beat 
high  with  joy  at  the  sight.  We  all  took  our 
stations  on  deck,  to  watch  her  as  she  came 
bounding  over  the  waves.  She  passed  under 
our  stern,  and  rounded  to  on  our  lee-side.  Her 
small  boat  was  soon  lowered,  and  the  oars  ta- 
ken by  ten  natives;  and  in  a  few  minutes  our 
pilot  was  welcomed  on  board.  He  is  an  Eng- 
lishman, gentlemanly  in  his  manners,  and  dress- 
ed in  a  blue  cloth  coat,  white  pantaloons,  and 
slippers.  We  all  gazed  at  him,  both  crew  and 
passengers,  as  if  we  were  surprised  to  find  that 
there  were  other  beings  in  the  world  besides 
ourselves.  His  servant  is  quite  a  young  looking 
lad,  dressed  in  white  muslin,  with  a  yellow 
scarf  around  his  waist,  and  a  red  cap  on  his 
head.  I  cannot  express  my  feelings  at  the  first 
sight  of  the  natives;  their  countenances  are  ef- 
feminate, and  bear  the  most  evident  marks  of 


150  MEMOIR   OF 

degradation.  And  are  these  the  beings,  I  re- 
marked to  sister  W.  who  stood  near  me — Are 
these  the  beings  for  whom  we  have  come  to 
labor,  and  for  whom  the  Saviour  of  mankind 
died  ? 

This  morning  at  five  o'clock,  I  caught  the 
first  sight  of  land.  We  are  now  quietly  sailing 
up  the  Hoogley ;  and  hope  to  reach  Calcutta 
to-morrow.  0 !  if  the  dear  friends  at  home  only 
knew  of  our  safety  and  happiness,  it  would  af- 
ford us  great  satisfaction.  But  we  must  be  con- 
tent to  wait  a  year  before  we  can  have  an  ex- 
change of  letters.  Many  changes  must  take 
place  before  that  time  arrives.  How  well  it  is, 
that  we  do  not  know  what  is  before  us, — what 
trials  and  diflBculties  are  marked  out  for  us; 
and  how  delightful  it  is  to  lean  with  implicit 
confidence  on  our  covenant  keeping  God,  with 
the  precious  assurance  that  he  will  not  forsake 
us,  "  though  the  earth  be  removed  and  the 
mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea." 
Our  company  are  all  in  fine  health  and  spirits : 
happy  beyond  expression,  though  far  from  our 
dear  native  land,  and  separated  from  friends, 
and  many  of  the  privileges  of  a  civilized  land. 


MKS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  151 

The  above  extracts  from  her  journal,  afford 
delightful  evidence  of  her  deep  and  increasing 
interest  in  the  glorious  cause  to  which  her  life 
was  consecrated.  She  longed  to  be  actively 
engaged  in  the  work;  and  rejoiced  that  the 
winds  and  waves  were  wafting  her  so  swiftly  to 
the  scenes  of  her  future  labor.  And  she  seem- 
ed to  feel,  that  if  she  could  be  instrumental  in 
rescuing  one  soul  from  the  dominion  of  ignor- 
ance and  superstition  ;  of  pouring  the  light  of 
truth  divine  into  one  benighted  mind  ;  of  leading 
one  guilty  spirit  to  the  fountain  of  cleansing  ; 
and  of  kindling  up  in  one  despairing  and  deso- 
late heart,  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality, 
she  would  be  amply  rewarded  for  all  the  sacri- 
fices which  she  had  made,  and  for  a  life  of  toil 
and  self-denial.  And  it  is  delightful  also,  to 
witness  the  sanctifj'ing  influence  of  her  afflic- 
tions upon  her  heart  and  life.  The  beatific,  but 
unrevealed  visions  of  her  sick  chamber,  seem 
to  have  thrown  a  salutary  shade  over  all  earth- 
ly things.  The  world  was  fast  losing  its  hold 
upon  her  affections ;  she  no  longer  regarded  it 
as  her  home.     Her  heart  and  her  hopes,  were 


152  MEMOIR  or 

more  than  ever  above;  and  her  yearnings  and 
aspirations  after  the  blissful  realities  of  the  hea- 
venly world  seemed  to  increase  from  day  to  day. 
And  there  is  something  in  the  subdued  and  ten- 
der spirit  that  she  breathed ;  in  the  freedom 
from  all  anxiety  in  regard  to  her  future  lot,  that 
she  manifested ;  in  the  unruffled  composure, 
and  sweet  peace  of  mind  that  she  enjoyed,  and 
in  the  almost  prophetic  tones  of  some  of  the  last 
sentences  that  she  penned,  that  might  perhaps 
justify  our  anticipations  of  the  melancholy  event 
which  another  chapter  must  disclose. 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  153 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ARRIVAL    AT    CALCUTTA SICKNESS DEATH. 

After  an  unusually  long  passage  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  days,  the  Edward  anchored 
in  safety  at  Calcutta,  on  the  sixth  of  April,  1838. 
But  although  their  confinement  had  been  tedious, 
and  several  of  them  had  suffered  much  from 
sickness,  they  were  now  "  in  fine  health  and 
spirits."  They  had  hoped  not  to  be  detained 
there,  longer  than  to  make  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements for  their  departure  up  the  Ganges  : 
and  they  were  now  the  more  anxious  to  proceed 
immediately,  as  the  cholera  was  raging  with 
considerable  violence  among  the  native  popula- 
tion of  the  city,  while  the  country  generally  was 
reported  to  be  healthy.  Although  but  here  and 
there  a  solitary  case  had  been  fatal  among  the 
Europeans,  still  they  desired,  if  possible,  to 
avoid  any  exposure  to  its  ravages.  But  there 
was  an  unforeseen  difficulty  in  the  way  of  an 
immediate  departure,  and  their  long  passage 
14 


154  MEMOIR    OF 

had  delayed  them  so  much  that  the  hot  winds 
were  now  in  full  blast,  during  the  prevalence  of 
which,  it  is  considered  unsafe  to  travel  in  India, 
by  land  or  water.  There  were  "  perils  in  the 
city,"  therefore,  and  perils  in  the  country.  The 
season  when  they  arrived,  is  regarded  as  the 
most  trying  in  the  whole  year.  In  accordance 
with  the  advice  of  friends  and  physicians,  the 
missionaries  deemed  it  best  to  defer  their  de- 
parture until  the  first  of  June.  And  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  we  find  them  "  comforta- 
bly settled  in  their  own  hired  house." 

Allahabad,  to  which,  as  their  field  of  labor, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  were  designated,  is  an 
old  and  important  city.  It  is  pleasantly  situated 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Jumna  and  Ganges, 
about  four  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  north- 
west of  Calcutta.  It  is  said  to  contain  a  popu- 
lation, exclusive  of  the  garrison,  of  twenty  thou- 
sand souls ;  it  has  a  magnificent  citadel ;  and 
its  fortifications  are  impregnable  to  any  native 
army.  It  derives  its  principal  interest  and  im- 
portance, from  its  proximity  to  the  largest  and 
most  holy  prayaga  of  the  Hindoos,  so  noted, 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  lOO 

that  it  is  called  the  "  king  of  worshipped 
places ;"  and  the  territory,  to  the  extent  of  for- 
ty miles  round,  is  deemed  holy  ground.  So 
numerous  are  the  pilgrims  who  resort  hither  for 
ablution,  that  for  this  indulgence  an  annual 
contribution  of  fifty  thousand  rupees  has  been 
paid  into  the  vizier's  treasury.  And  formerly, 
human  sacrifices  were  of  frequent  occurrence 
here.  The  following  instance  is  described  by 
a  spectator  of  the  scene : — "  Sixteen  females, 
accompanied  by  as  many  priests,  went  in  boats 
on  the  river,  opposite  Allahabad,  and  proceeded 
to  the  spot  where  the  Ganges  and  the  Jumna, 
two  sacred  rivers,  unite  their  purifying  streams. 
Each  victim  had  a  large  earthen  pan  slung  over 
her  shoulders.  She  descended  over  the  side  of 
the  boat  into  the  river,  and  was  then  held  up 
by  the  priest,  till  she  had  filled  the  pans  with 
water,  when  the  priest  let  go  his  hold,  and  the 
pans  dragged  her  to  the  bottom.  And  thus 
died  amidst  the  applauses  of  the  spectators,  and 
assisted  by  the  priests  of  the  country,  sixteen 
females,  as  a  single  offering  to  the  demon  of 
destruction.   They  died,  under  the  firm  persua- 


156  MEMOIR    OF 

sion,  that  this  was  the  direct  way  to  heaven. 
The  priests  enjoyed  the  scene,  and  spoke  of  it 
to  their  friends  as  a  pleasant  morning  gamboh 
We  have  here  no  weepers ;  no  remonstrants ; 
no  youth  interposing  to  save  them  to  society. 
They  go  down  to  the  bottom,  as  loose  stones 
which  have  no  adhesion  to  the  quarry ;  as  crea- 
tures for  which  society  has  no  use.  Nor  must 
it  be  supposed  that  this  is  a  solitary  instance  ; 
these  immolations  are  so  common,  that  they 
excite  very  little  anxiety  indeed  at  Allahabad, 
and  beyond  that  city  they  are  scarcely  men- 
tioned." 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  had  this  city 
under  consideration,  as  a  station  for  missionary 
operations,  when  an  interesting  communica- 
tion was  received  from  Mr.  McEwen,  who 
was  led  by  providential  circumstances  to  remain 
there  for  some  time,  instead  of  proceeding  di- 
rectly to  the  stations  in  the  northwest.  He 
met  with  so  much  encouragement  in  his  labors, 
that  he  formed  a  church  of  ten  or  twelve  mem- 
bers, one  of  whom  was  a  native,  the  others 


MRS.  ANNA  MAKIA  MORRISON.  157 

partly  of  European  descent,  whose  minds  re- 
ceived their  first  serious  religious  impressions 
under  his  ministry.  The  Board  regarded  it  as 
opening  to  them  a  large,  important,  and  inter- 
esting field  of  labor;  and  they  determined  at 
once  to  establish  a  permanent  station  there. 
And  this  was  the  spot  which  Mrs.  M.  had,  for 
many  months,  looked  upon  as  her  future  home ; 
here  she  hoped  to  live,  and  labor,  and  die.  But 
the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  had  otherwise  deter- 
mined in  regard  to  her;  she  was  destined  never 
to  reach  it. 

It  was  not  long  after  their  arrival  in  Calcutta, 
before  Mrs.  M.  experienced  another  attack  of 
that  dreadful  pain  in  the  head,  attended  with 
convulsions,  from  which  she  suffered  so  severe- 
ly on  the  voyage.  In  a  letter  to  her  sisters, 
dated  April  13lh,  Mr.  Morrison  writes: — "Our 
dear  Anna  did  intend  to  write  to  you  herself, 
but  she  is  too  unwell.  She  had  been  complain- 
ing a  day  or  two,  and  yesterday  she  was  again 
siezed  with  convulsions.  She  was,  however, 
soon  relieved,  by  the  application  of  leeches  and 
ice  to  the  head ;  and  is  so  much  better  to-day, 
14* 


158  MEMOIR  OF 

that  she  is  continually  teazing  me  for  permis- 
sion to  write  some.  If  she  continues  to  get 
better,  I  may  gratify  her,  and  leave  a  small 
corner  for  her  to  fill  ;  but  I  fear  it  would  tend 
to  bring  on  another  attack.  If  she  is  careful, 
I  think  she  will  get  through  it  very  well." 

The  little  note  which  she  appended  to  the 
above  letter,  must  be  regarded  as  the  faint  mur- 
mur of  her  last  farewell. 

"  I  thought  my  corner  would  be  a  small  one. 
This  is  all  I  am  allowed  to  write.  I  could  say 
a  thousand  things  to  you  all ;  but  I  am  unable, 
being  obliged  to  lie  upon  my  back  most  of  the 
time.  I  mean  to  have  a  letter  ready  for  the 
first  ship  that  sails  after  this  one. 

"  Adieu,  dearest  sisters, 

"  Anna." 

From  this  attack,  however,  she  so  far  recover- 
ed as  to  be  able  to  ride  out  again;  and  she  con- 
tinued to  improve  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
27th,  when  the  first  symptoms  of  the  fatal  dis- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  159 

ease  made  their  appearance.  The  weak  and 
debilitated  state  of  her  system,  no  doubt,  pre- 
disposed her  to  its  attacks,  and  rendered  her  an 
easy  and  almost  unresisting  victim.  And,  "the 
first  ship  that  sailed,"  instead  of  her  promised 
letter,  brought  the  melancholy  and  afflicting 
intellio-ence  that  she  was  no  more, — that  she 
died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  after  a  severe  but  short 
illness  of  twelve  hours.  But  the  closing  scene 
will  best  be  given,  in  the  language  of  her  be- 
reaved husband. 

Calcutta,  May,  Ath,  1838. 

My  ever  DEAR  Parents  : 

You  know  that  our  dear  Anna  was  a  delight- 
ful singer,  in  America :  but  she  never  sung  half 
so  sweetly  as  she  does  now.  Within  the  last 
few  days  she  has  learned  a  new  song ;  that 
song  which  none  but  the  redeemed  from  among 
men  can  learn.  She  has  received  a  golden  harp 
from  the  King  of  Zion  ;  and  0,  what  a  choir 
has  she  joined  !  Such  music  was  never  heard 
on  earth  but  once,  when  those  bright  celestial 
beings  who  visited  the  shepherds  on  the  plains 


160  MEMOIR  OF 

of  Bethlehem,  sung,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  and  on  earth  peace  good  will  towards 
men."  Yes,  our  beloved  Anna  has  finished  her 
pilgrimage, — has  exchanged  earth  for  heaven. 
One  week  ago  to-day,  she  complained  a  lit- 
tle, in  the  morning,  of  sickness  at  the  stomach ; 
but  it  soon  passed  off,  and  we  thought  no  more 
of  it,  as  she  went  about  her  daily  duties  as  usual, 
and  remarked  how  well  she  felt.  After  consid- 
erable exertion  during  the  forenoon,  she  felt  the 
need  of  a  little  rest,  and  lay  down,  exacting  a 
promise  that  I  would  call  her  in  time  for  dinner. 
When  the  time  camel  spoke  to  her;  and  being 
in  a  sound  sleep  she  started  up  very  suddenly 
and  was  thrown  all  into  a  tremor,  and  at  dinner 
felt  so  unwell  as  to  be  obliged  to  leave  the  ta- 
ble. During  the  whole  afternoon,  she  com- 
plained of  feeling  somewhat  unwell ;  but 
thought  that  a  short  ride,  and  the  fresh  air, 
would  do  her  good.  Accordingly,  I  procured  a 
carriage  and  took  her  and  Mrs.  McEwen  out, 
about  a  mile  and  a  halt  or  two  miles,  to  call 
upon  one  of  the  English  missionaries.  We  re- 
turned  immediately;    but  she    was  evidently 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  161 

much  worse,  and  went  to  bed  with  a  violent 
pain  in  her  bowels. 

[  After  mentioning  several  remedies,  which 
he  administered  without  any  effect,  Mr.  M.  con- 
tinues.] 

Fearing  to  let  it  go  on  any  further,  I  sent 
for  a  physician,  who  came  about  midnight : 
and  the  moment  he  began  to  examine  her  case, 
all  my  fears  were  confirmed,  that  she  was  suf- 
ferino;  from  an  attack  of  the  cholera.  He  de- 
cidedly  approved  of  all  that  I  had  done;  and 
prescribed  more  powerful  remedies,  which  were 
strictly  applied  ;  but  before  day  she  began  to 
-suffer  severely,  from  violent  spasms  of  cramp, 
in  her  feet  and  legs.  As  soon  as  they  came  on, 
1  sent  for  the  doctor  again,  but  he  did  not  ar- 
rive until  near  six  o'clock.  He  immediately 
gave  her  a  tea-spoonful  of  black  drop,  and  pre- 
scribed thirty  drops  every  hour  and  a  half,  with 
other  remedies  equally  energetic.  But  it  was 
all  of  no  avail.  The  disease  appeared  to  hold 
on  its  course,  as  steadily,  and  fearfully,  as  if  no 
obstacle  had  been  thrown  in  its  way.  About 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  she  appeared  re- 


162  MEMOIR  OP 

lieved  from  her  spasms  almost  entirely,  and  her 
symptoms  were  better,  so  that  I  began  to  en- 
tertain some  hope  of  her  recovery ;  but  her  ra- 
pid sinking  too  soon  made  it  evident  that  this 
was  only  because  the  disease  had  finished  its 
work.  During  the  forenoon  the  physician  in 
attendance  brought  in  another,  very  eminent  in 
his  profession,  to  consult  in  regard  to  her;  and 
he  advised  to  continue  the  treatment,  only  to 
apply  the  remedies  more  frequently.  So  that 
I  feel  satisfied  that  every  thing  that  human  skill 
could  accomplish  was  done  for  her. 

Thus  much  for  the  disease  and  its  treatment, 
— which  is  all  painful  to  contemplate  ;  but  let 
us  now  turn  to  the  other  more  interesting  and 
important  part  of  the  history  of  our  dear  de- 
parted friend.  From  the  first  she  could  not  be 
persuaded  that  this  sickness  was  not  unto  death. 
Not  that  she  felt  any  fearful  anticipations  of 
death,  or  desired  longer  life, — far  otherwise. 
She  had  no  fear ;  but  rejoiced  in  the  prospect. 
Her  confidence  in  the  hope  of  eternal  fife,  w^as 
not  at  all  in  any  thing  she  had  done,  but  in  the 
finished  work  of  Christ.     This  she  frequently 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA   MORRISON.  168 

and  strongly  expressed.  And  in  view  of  this, 
she  said  to  a  missionary  standing  by  her  bed- 
side, *'  Oh,  how  I  used  to  be  troubled  with  the 
fear  of  death  !  it  made  my  life  unhappy  ;  but 
now  it  is  altogether  different, — all  is  bright, 
there  is  not  a  cloud."  She  requested  him  to 
pray  with  her ;  "  but  not,"  she  said,  "  for  my 
recovery,  unless  the  Lord  shall  think  best." 
Her  great  anxiety  appeared  to  be,  lest  she 
should  complain,  and  not  suffer  as  a  Christian. 
She  charged  us  all  to  live  more  for  Christ  than 
she  had  done  ;  and  wished  me  to  let  her  know 
when  we  thought  her  dying,  as  she  had  some 
messages  to  give  me.  Her  spasms,  however, 
came  on  with  such  violence,  that  although  I 
asked  her  what  messages  she  had  to  send,  long 
before  we  thought  her  case  hopeless,  she  said 
her  distress  was  such  that  she  could  not  collect 
her  thoughts  sufficiently  to  do  it.  She  saw  me 
once  deeply  affected,  sitting  by  her  side,  with 
my  head  resting  on  my  hand,  and  pulling  me 
to  her,  she  begged  me  not  to  yield  to  my  feel- 
ings ;  it  was  trying  to  see  me  suffer ;  it  was 
trying  to  part,  but  we  had  before  given  each 


164  MEMOIR   OF 

other  up,  and  could  do  so  again,  as  our  sepa- 
ration would  not  be  long.  In  short,  she  gave 
the  same  delightful  evidence  of  her  readiness 
to  depart  and  dwell  forever  with  the  Lord,  that 
she  did  on  board  the  ship.  Even  to  her  last 
words  she  evinced  the  same  calm,  collected 
state  of  mind,  resting  upon  the  righteousness 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  only  ground 
of  hope.  When  her  physician  gave  us  to  un- 
derstand that  he  had  no  hope  of  her  recovery, 
I  went  to  her  immediately,  and  asked  her  if  she 
was  ready  to  receive  the  summons  to  go  and 
be  with  Christ  ?  She  replied,  without  the 
least  appearance  of  agitation,  "  Yes,"  I  told 
her  the  opinion  of  the  physician,  and  that  I 
thought  this  was  the  last  day  we  should  spend 
together  in  this  world.  To  all  this  she  listened 
with  perfect  composure.  I  asked  her  how  she 
felt  now  that  death  was  so  certainly  near  ?  She 
simply  replied, "  Happy."  Soon  after,  observing 
that  she  was  fast  sinking,  1  asked  her,  How 
does  the  prospect  now  appear  ?  "  Glorious," 
was  her  only  reply, — and  she  spoke  no  more 
intil  she  joined  the  song  of  the  redeemed  ones 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  165 

around  the  throne.  In  a  few  moments  she 
sweetly  sunk  to  rest  in  the  arms  of  JesuSj  with- 
out a  struggle  or  a  groan. 

Thus,  my  beloved  parents,  has  closed  the 
mortal  career  of  one  dear  to  me  as  ray  own 
life.  I  can  yet  hardly  realize  the  fact  that  it 
is  so  ;  but  my  lonely  situation,  and  every  thing 
around  me,  reminds  me  that  it  is  no  dream.  Oh, 
what  a  blank  this  world  appears  to  me  !  But 
it  is  all  ordered  in  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness. 
I  cannot  complain ;  neither  can  I  mourn  for 
her,  but  O  how  sadly  I  have  reason  to  feel  for 
myself,  and  for  this  degraded,  dying  people  ! 
She  has  been  taken  from  the  evil  in  the  world, 
and  ushered  into  a  region  of  ineffable  glory  and 
blessedness.  0  then  let  us  quell  every  mur- 
muring thought,  and  suppress  every  rising  sigh, 
with  the  reflection,  that  an  eternal  weight  of 
glory  is  now  revealed  to  her.  O  where  is  she  ? 
what  is  her  employment  ?  and  what  is  her  so- 
ciety ?  Let  these  considerations  assuage  our 
grief,  animate  our  hopes,  and  stimulate  us  to 
"  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the 
high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  It  was 
16 


166  MEMOIR  OF 

our  delight  to  anticipate  a  dying  hour,  and  en- 
deavor to  prepare  each  other  for  it.  It  was  our 
delight  to  read  the  word  of  God  together  ;  to 
pray  together  ;  to  converse  on  heavenly  things, 
and  read  those  devotional  works  which  tended 
more  immediately  to  wean  us  from  the  worlds 
and  fix  our  hearts  and  hopes  more  firmly  on 
our  eternal  inheritance.  And  now  I  rejoice 
that  it  was  so  ;  for  although  she  is  gone,  I 
know  it  is  only  to  enter  first  upon  that  blessed 
inheritance,  which  we  loved  to  contemplate 
together  here  below.  This  has  made  our  sep- 
aration comparatively  easy ;  we  both  felt  that 
it  must  be  short,  and  when  the  brief  space  is 
past,  we  shall  be  reunited  in  more  perfect  and 
inseparable  bonds.  The  Lord  was  with  her  in 
her  most  trying  hours  ;  he  has  been  with  me, 
and  in  all  the- bitterness  of  the  cup  put  into  my 
hands,  he  has  sweetly  mingled  the  richest  con- 
solation, and  sustained  me  with  his  almighty 
arm.  And  I  know  he  will  be  with  you  to  sus- 
tain and  support  you  ;  so  that  you  may  cheer- 
fully.submit  to  his  will,  and  never  entertain  one 
regret  that  you  gave  her  to  his  service.   O  how 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  167 

often  did  she  speak  of  the  delight  and  happi- 
ness it  afforded  her,  to  be  permitted  to  come ; 
and  of  the  pleasing  hope  that  some  of  her  dear 
brothers  and  sisters  might  be  privileged  to  join 
her  in  heathen  lands.  It  was  her  rejoicing, 
even  on  her  death-bed,  that  she  had  come  ;  and 
she  wished  me  particularly  to  say  that  she  had 
not  one  regret  at  the  thought  of  dying  for 
Christ.  If  we  have  not  reason  to  rejoice  in 
our  tribulation,  who  can  have  ?  And  now 
that  we  have  dropped  the  tear  of  affection  and 
hallowed  grief,  let  us  seek  our  consolation  in 
Christ ;  let  us  devote  ourselves  more  unreserv- 
edly to  his  service  that  like  our  dtarly  beloved 
Anna,  we  may  be  prepared  with  joy  to  wel- 
come his  coming  in  triumph  over  the  last  enemy, 
and  to  go  and  reign  forever  with  our  glorious 
King  in  the  New  Jerusalem. 

The  following  extracts  of  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Morrison  to  Walter  Lowrie,  Esq.,  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  of  the  Board,  contain  some  fur- 
ther particulars  of  interest  in  regard  to  this 
melancholy  event. 


168  MEMOIR  OF 

"  Oh  how  often  have  I  had  occasion  to  recur 
to  our  last  interview,  and  bring  to  mind  your 
parting  exhortations.  How  often  have  I  been 
called  to  test  the  truth  of  your  remarks,  about 
"rejoicing  in  tribulation."  Many  have  been 
the  seasons  of  bitter  anguish  of  soul  through 
which  I  have,  since  that  time,  been  called  to 
pass.  But  in  them  all  the  Lord  has  sustained 
me.  Not  only  his  staff,  but  his  rod  has  been 
my  comfort.  What  interpreter,  like  the  hand 
of  God  upon  us,  can  ever  explain  such  pas- 
sages as  these,  "thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they 
comfort  me ;"  "  rejoicing  in  tribulation."  To 
the  world  this  is  a  paradox ;  but  oh  !  how  plain 
does  the  hand  of  God  upon  his  children  make 
it  to  them.  Long  before  this  reaches  you,  I 
suppose  you  will  be  made  acquainted  with  the 
sore  bereavement  with  which  the  Lord  has 
visited  me.  I  had  felt  that  such  a  visitation 
would  make  the  cup  of  affliction  overflow  ;  but 
the  Lord  has  been  as  good  as  his  word,  and  far 
better  than  my  guilty,  unbelieving  fears.  He 
has  not  called  me  to  suffer  more  than  he  has 
enabled  me  to  bear.     And  while  he  has  severed 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  169 

the  tenderest  of  all  my  earthly  ties ;  "while  he 
has  caused  the  heart  of  nature  to  bleed ;  he 
has  also  strengthened  the  heart  with  grace  and 
made  faith  to  triumph.  In  the  bitterest  portion 
of  the  cup  he  has  called  me  to  drink,  he  has 
mingled  some  of  the  richest  and  sweetest  mer- 
cies. Those  very  sufferings  which  my  beloved 
wife  was  called  to  endure,  and  which  tried  me 
to  the  very  soul,  brought  to  light  the  brightness 
of  her  hopes,  and  the  strength  of  her  faith. 
But  while  I  am  thus  comforted  in  the  assurance 
of  the  glory  and  blessedness  which  she  has  in- 
herited, the  very  evidence  upon  which  that 
assurance  rests  convinces  me  of  what  I  have 
lost ;  of  what  the  church  has  lost ;  of  what  a 
dying  world  has  lost.  The  perfect  calmness 
and  composure  with  which  she  faced  the  king 
of  terrors,  in  one  of  his  most  frightful  forms, 
would  have  led  an  observer  to  the  conclusion, 
that  stupefying  drugs,  or  the  hand  of  death, 
had  deprived  her  of  bodily  or  mental  feeling, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  violent  paroxysms  of 
agony  she  suffered,  and  the  clearness  and  intel- 
15* 


170  MEMOIR  OF 

ligence  with  which  she  spoke  to  those  around 
her." 

After  giving  some  of  the  particulars  con- 
tained in  the  previous  letter,  he  proceeds : 

"I  have  not  attempted  even  a  sketch  of 
what  passed  on  that  gloomy,  joyful  day.  I 
have  only  mentioned  a  very  few  facts,  such  as 
come  first  to  mind,  to  show  the  spirit  with 
which  she  triumphed  over  the  last  enemy,  and 
to  show  what  cause  I  have  both  to  mourn  and 
rejoice.  0  what  a  blank  that  day  made  in  the 
world  for  me  !  I  can  yet  hardly  realize  it.  It 
still  appears  as  if  I  should  soon  wake  from  a 
dream,  and  find  her  by  my  side.  But  every 
time  I  take  the  deserted  chair;  the  solitary 
hour  when  I  was  wont  to  commune  with  her 
of  the  things  of  the  kingdom  ;  my  lonely  walk ; 
and,  more  than  all,  that  vacant  place  I  observe 
at  the  throne  of  grace ;  all,  all  make  me  feel 
that  it  is  no  dream.  Every  recurring  memorial 
of  my  dear  departed  companion  tears  open  the 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  171 

closing  wound,  and  makes  it  bleed  afresh.  But 
while  I  weep,  I  trust  the  Lord  has  enabled  me 
to  rejoice.  His  rod  and  his  staff  are  my  com- 
fort. I  do  rejoice  that  she  is  free  from  the  toils 
and  sufferings  of  this  gloomy  wilderness,  and 
that  she  has  had  so  abundantly  administered  to 
her  an  entrance  upon  her  heavenly  inheritance ; 
and  I  rejoice  in  the  thought,  that  God  may,  by 
this  affliction,  be  preparing  me  for  greater  use- 
fulness in  the  world,  and  brighter  glory  in 
heaven. 

"  You  may  wish  to  know  how  she  felt  about 
having  left  all  her  large  circle  of  endeared 
friends  and  relatives  only  to  come  to  a  heathen 
land  to  set  her  house  in  order  and  then  die. 
Her  own  language  on  this  subject  was  :  *  Tell 
them  all  at  home,  much  as  I  love  them,  and 
fondly  as  my  heart  clings  to  them,  tell  them  all 
I  am  not  sorry  that  I  have  left  them  all  for 
Christ,  though  it  be  but  to  die  in  his  service ; 
no,  tell  them  I  rejoice  that  I  have  been  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  the  privilege.'  This,  as  near 
as  I  can  recollect,  is  her  own  language.  I  know 
it  was  the  feeling  of  her  heart,  often  expressed, 


172  MEMOIR  OP 

both  in  health  and  sickness.  It  was  not  the 
mere  ebullition  of  a  moment  of  excitement ;  it 
was  a  settled  feeling  of  the  soul ;  a  ripened 
principle.  She  had  no  ecstasies;  all  was  calm 
and  serene  as  the  cloudless  setting  of  a  summer's 
sun. 

"  Thus  you  will  perceive  that,  although  I  have 
been  called  to  pass  through  the  furnace,  heated 
seven  times  hotter  than  usual,  there  has  been 
'  one  like  the  Son  of  God'  with  me,  to  sustain 
me,  and  afford  me  the  delightful  assurance  that 
it  was  heated  only  by  a  father's  love. 

"  She  died  on  Saturday  evening,  just  three 
weeks  after  she  landed ;  and  on  Sabbath  eve- 
ning I  saw  her  remains  deposited,  agreeably  to 
her  own  wish,  beside  those  of  your  own  much 
lamented  daughter-in-law.  Lovely  were  they 
in  life,  lovely  in  death  ;  and  there,  although 
strangers  to  each  other  in  this  pilgrimage,  they 
will  sleep  together  until  the  morning  of  the  re- 
surrection ;  when  with  us,  I  trust,  they  shall 
rise  and  go  to  be  ever  with  the  Lord.  *  Where- 
fore let  us  comfort  one  another  with  these 
words.' " 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  173 

The  mournful  yet  pleasing  task  assigned  us, 
is  now  nearly  accomplished.  We  have  follow- 
ed our  dear  departed  friend  to  the  close  of  her 
short  career  on  earth.  It  might  accord  with  our 
feelings  to  indulge  in  some  general  remarks 
upon  her  character,  but  we  deem  them  uncall- 
ed for.  She  needs  no  eulogy  to  exalt  her  in  the 
estimation  of  those  who  knew  her;  and  to  the 
stranger,  we  prefer  to  leave  the  few  and  simple 
memorials  of  her  life  to  speak  for  themselves. 
Though  we  have  been  called  to  contemplate 
nothing  eccentric,  or  splendid,  in  human  char- 
acter, yet  we  have  here  exhibited  for  our  admi- 
ration, the  useful  and  the  true.  We  shall  al- 
ways remember,  and  love  her,  as  the  dutiful 
child  ;  the  affectionate  sister  ;  the  devoted'wife  ; 
the  faithful  friend ;  the  sincere,  and  warm- 
hearted Christian  ;  and  in  feeling  and  purpose, 
the  self-sacrificing'  missionary  of  the  cross,  tier 
spirit  deserves  to  be  cherished,  for  it  was  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel ;  and  her  conduct  is  worthy 
of  imitation,  for  she  walked  in  the  footste]is  o{ 
her  ascended  Saviour.  But  while  we  add  no 
remarks  of  our  own,  we  feel  a  pleasure  in  re 


174  MEMOIR  OF 

cording  the  following  testimony  to  her  worth, 
from  one  who  knew  her  long  and  intimately. 

"  I  may  here  indulge  in  the  expression  of  my 
own  views  of  her  qualifications  for  usefulness  in 
the  missionary  work.  The  more  I  saw  of  her, 
the  more  I  was  encouraged  to  expect  much  from 
her  efforts  on  the  field  of  labor.  Her  whole 
soul  was  wrapped  up  in  the  work  and  honor  of 
her  Master ;  and  her  prayers  for  the  heathen 
seemed  to  flow  from  a  heart  burdened  with 
anxious  desires  for  their  salvation.  She  was 
zealous  in  the  sacred  cause.  She  was  winning 
in  her  address  to  those  whom  she  wished 
to  benefit ;  and  appeared  in  every  way  adapted 
to  be  eminently  and  extensively  useful.  From 
all  I  knew  of  Mrs.  Morrison,  and  from  all  I  have 
seen  in  my  intercourse  with  missionaries,  for  sev- 
eral years,  I  feel  warranted  in  saying,  that  her 
qualifications  for  usefulness  would  have  placed 
her  among  the  very  first  of  her  fellow  labor- 
ers, had  she  been  permitted  to  make  the  expe- 
riment. As  a  Christian  she  was  devoted,  hum- 
ble, heavenly-minded,  and  an  ardent  lover  of 
peace.     In  society,  she  was  courteous,  unobtru- 


MRS.  ANNA  MARIA  MORRISON.  175 

sive,  and  diffident  of  her  own  abilities.  Her 
conversation  was  chiefly  of  heavenly  things; 
and  she  was  constantly  endeavoring  to  elevate 
the  standard  of  piety  and  devotedness  among 
those  around  her.  It  is  not  meant  that  she  was 
prepared  to  shine  in  circles  of  fashion,  or  of 
worldly  gayety  and  grandeur.  For  these  she 
had  no  relish ;  nor  was  she  one  who  would 
shine  at  all,  in  the  eyes  of  any  but  those  who 
regard  deep,  devoted  piety,  and  practical  use- 
fulness, as  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  female 
character.  She  possessed  '  the  meek  and  quiet 
spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great 
price,'  and  those  solid  attractions  which  won 
for  her  the  admiration  and  love  of  those  who 
knew  her  best." 

Beloved  sister  in  Christ,  thou  art  gone !  Thy 
race  on  earth  was  short ;  and  thy  work  of  faith 
and  labor  of  love  were  well  and  early  done. 
We  mourn  sincerely  over  thy  untimely  grave ; 
but  we  mourn  not  as  those  who  are  without  hope. 
A  deep  mystery  hangs  over  thy  death ;  but  not 
over  thine  alone.  But  what  we  know  not  now, 
we  shall  know  hereafter.     We  submissively 


176  MEMOIR,    ETC. 

wait  until  it  shall  be  revealed  in  heaven.  We 
can  believe  it  was  well,  and  wisely  ordered. 
Thou  wert  beloved  in  life,  and  in  death  thou  art 
not  forgotten.  The  image  of  thy  placid  face 
and  mild  blue  eye  still  dwells  in  the  memory  ; 
and  thy  virtues  are  enshrined  in  the  heart.  Thom 
hast  fallen  asleep  far  from  thy  kindred  and 
country, — a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, — but 
thy  dust  is  sacred.  And  the  "  missionary's 
grave"  will  be  guarded  safely  until  the  resur- 
rection of  the  just. 

'And  so  farewell,     *     *    My  sainted  friend, 
Whose  bright  example,  not  without  rebuke 
Admonisheth,  that  home,  and  ease,  and  wealth, 
And  native  land, — are  well  exchanged  for  heaven." 


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